US Congress is debating a bill that envisages termination of military assistance to Pak if Islamabad fails to halt the resurgence of the Taliban.
LAHORE/WASHINGTON, DC: The US Congress is debating a bill that, among other things, envisages termination of military assistance to Pakistan if Islamabad fails to halt the resurgence of the Taliban.
If the bill — officially called ‘Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007’ — is passed by both Houses of Congress and receives presidential assent, President George W Bush will be required to submit a report, within 90 days, to the relevant congressional committees on the American strategy towards Pakistan. The report will be required to delineate a long-term plan to “accomplish the goal of building a moderate Pakistan”.
But Frederick Grare — visiting scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - said it was counterproductive to link US military and financial aid to the situation in Pakistan. “One can understand limiting military aid because part of the problem that Pakistan faces on its borders is because of an incompetent military,” said Grare, who is project leader on assessing US and European policies towards Pakistan. “But the House legislation is a case of victimising the situation, and not understanding the ground realities.”
According to the legislation, Pakistan needs to take action against the revitalised Taliban militia in Quetta, capital of Balochistan; the North West Frontier Province (NWFP); and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Grare, however, said that to think that Pakistan will be able eliminate the Taliban from its borders is wishful thinking. “Nobody disputes that Pakistan should do that,” Grare said. “But, realistically, it cannot control its entire border at all times.”
The legislation urges Bush to certify that Islamabad is exerting itself to prevent Taliban activity in Pakistan. Release of funds to Pakistan or approval of licences for enhancing its military capability will depend on that certificate.
The bill, which has been cleared by the House Committee on Homeland Security and introduced in the House, has also been received in the Senate and referred to its Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.
The legislation acknowledges that “since September 11, 2001, Pakistan has [helped] the United States remove Taliban regime in Afghanistan and [combat] international terrorism in the frontier provinces of Pakistan”.
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