Pakistan shadow-boxing over controversial bill

The debate in Pakistan’s National Assembly on the Kerry-Lugar economic assistance bill is shadow boxing. The fact is that Pakistan needs economic assistance and the US is dependent on the country for its war against the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Not much will change despite the noise — in Islamabad as well as in Washington — over the controversial financial package, which has several riders deeply unpopular in Pakistan.

Indian analysts are watching the debate closely as New Delhi has for years complained that US aid — whether civil or military — to Islamabad is often partially diverted to anti-India groups in Pakistan. In the latest instance, the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been named, and Pakistan asked to keep the groups in check.

R Parthasarathy, former high commissioner to Pakistan, said the Kerry-Lugar bill has raised some sensitive issues like civilian-army relations and the need to act against terrorists operating against neighbouring countries, and also carries riders like US aid not be diverted.

Parthasarathy believes that the country needs US aid and Washington also controls the purse strings of the World Bank and the IMF, without which Pakistan will collapse.