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John Kerry defends US aid to Pakistan
WASHINGTON: Chairman US Foreign Relations Committee senator John Kerry has defended American aid to Pakistan, saying that Congress should not make any decision in haste.According to reports, following killing of Al-Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, debate on slashing Pakistan aid is continue among US Congress members.
A bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives that reads that ‘no US assistance can be provided to Pakistan unless the Obama administration certifies to Congress that Pakistan did not have any information about Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts’
“Congress has already appropriated $3 billion in aid to Pakistan for this year,” said Congressman Ted Poe, a Texas Republican, while introducing the bill. “Unless Pakistan can prove that they were not providing sanctuary for America ‘s number one enemy, they should not receive any American aid.”
Co-sponsors – Congressmen Vern Buchanan, John Culberson, and Allen West, all Republicans – also want to “punish” Pakistan but many see it as a hasty move.
“It is not the time to back away from Pakistan but rather a time to strengthen ties,” said House Speaker John Boehner. “It’s premature’ to talk of cutting aid, we both benefit from having a strong bilateral relationship.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs but a growing number of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are urging their colleagues not to take decisions that may hurt US interests.
At a hearing on Pakistan in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Thursday, Senator John Kerry urged lawmakers to think what impact their move to stop aid will have.
John Kerry while expressing shock at Islamabad’s failure in dealing with bin Laden, said that despite glaring failings, Pakistan has been an important partner in the war on terrorism, helping to kill top Al-Qaeda operatives in the past and providing key intelligence.
During hearing of U.S. Senate on Pakistan Thursday, Kerry and other senators concurred that U.S. engagement with Pakistan must remain robust.
I see this as a time for us to be careful, to be thoughtful, to proceed deliberately but determinedly in order to lay on the table the things that we know have to change,” Kerry said. (Geo Urdu/ AP)
Courtesy www.geo.tv