ID :
14432
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 20:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14432
The shortlink copeid
US lawmakers tell Bush to suspend bid for upgrading Pak's F16s
Washington, July 30 (PTI) The US Congress has sought to put on hold the Bush administration's plans of diverting USD 200 million from counter-terrorism to upgrading F-16 fighter jets for Pakistan.
Two senior lawmakers Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Nita Lowey said that they were concerned that the proposal would harm counter-terrorism efforts and instead suggested that the money be used as economic assistance for Pakistan to help relieve its budgetary constraints.
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," they said in a joint statement.
The action of the senior law makers came on the eve of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to Capitol Hill where he will be meeting key leaders of the Senate and the House.
The plan for diverting funds which was revealed last week had raised hackles in the Congress with lawmakers questioning how the upgraded F-16s will help Islamabad in fighting terrorists.
The US has been stepping up pressure on Pakistan to do more to fight the militants who have found a safe haven in its tribal areas amid rising Taliban attacks in Afghanistan where 35,000 American troops are deployed.
Berman and Lowey said that a legislation passed by Congress last December specifically required that military aid to Pakistan be used for counter-terrorism and law enforcement activities directed against al Qaeda and the Taliban.
"We are concerned that the Administration's proposal to use military assistance to pay for the F-16 upgrades will divert funds from more effective counter-terrorism tools," the law makers said in.
"The hold also will remove tomorrow's deadline and provide time for Congress to make a more considered judgement in consultation with the Administration and the Government of Pakistan," they added.
The lawmakers proposed that Congress provide USD200 million in economic assistance to the government to relieve some of Pakistan's budgetary constraints brought on by rising food and fuel prices, which has impacted its ability to fund its F16 upgrades.
"This will help Pakistan set its own spending priorities while preserving US military aid for its intended purpose – counter-terrorism activities against Al Qaeda andthe Taliban," Berman and Lowey added.
Such requests for a hold by lawmakers are traditionally respected by the administration, congressional staffers said but it was still not clear how the Bush administration will react as it faced a Thursday deadline to make payments toLockheed Martin, that will upgrade the planes.
Despite the setback, a key US Senate panel unanimously passed a bill yesterday tripling non-military aid to Pakistanand sustaining it over at least five years.
The powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously adopted the Biden-Lugar Bill of developmental assistance totalling USD 7.5 billions over a five year periodand a possibility of another USD 7.5 for the same time frame.
However, sanction of the aid will require certification by Secretary of State that Pakistan is making concerted efforts to prevent al Qaeda, Taliban and associated terrorist groups from operating on its soil, including from materially interfering in the political or judicial processes of Pakistan. The bill would have to be passed by the full Ssenate and House and will have no immediate effect.
Two senior lawmakers Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Nita Lowey said that they were concerned that the proposal would harm counter-terrorism efforts and instead suggested that the money be used as economic assistance for Pakistan to help relieve its budgetary constraints.
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," they said in a joint statement.
The action of the senior law makers came on the eve of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to Capitol Hill where he will be meeting key leaders of the Senate and the House.
The plan for diverting funds which was revealed last week had raised hackles in the Congress with lawmakers questioning how the upgraded F-16s will help Islamabad in fighting terrorists.
The US has been stepping up pressure on Pakistan to do more to fight the militants who have found a safe haven in its tribal areas amid rising Taliban attacks in Afghanistan where 35,000 American troops are deployed.
Berman and Lowey said that a legislation passed by Congress last December specifically required that military aid to Pakistan be used for counter-terrorism and law enforcement activities directed against al Qaeda and the Taliban.
"We are concerned that the Administration's proposal to use military assistance to pay for the F-16 upgrades will divert funds from more effective counter-terrorism tools," the law makers said in.
"The hold also will remove tomorrow's deadline and provide time for Congress to make a more considered judgement in consultation with the Administration and the Government of Pakistan," they added.
The lawmakers proposed that Congress provide USD200 million in economic assistance to the government to relieve some of Pakistan's budgetary constraints brought on by rising food and fuel prices, which has impacted its ability to fund its F16 upgrades.
"This will help Pakistan set its own spending priorities while preserving US military aid for its intended purpose – counter-terrorism activities against Al Qaeda andthe Taliban," Berman and Lowey added.
Such requests for a hold by lawmakers are traditionally respected by the administration, congressional staffers said but it was still not clear how the Bush administration will react as it faced a Thursday deadline to make payments toLockheed Martin, that will upgrade the planes.
Despite the setback, a key US Senate panel unanimously passed a bill yesterday tripling non-military aid to Pakistanand sustaining it over at least five years.
The powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously adopted the Biden-Lugar Bill of developmental assistance totalling USD 7.5 billions over a five year periodand a possibility of another USD 7.5 for the same time frame.
However, sanction of the aid will require certification by Secretary of State that Pakistan is making concerted efforts to prevent al Qaeda, Taliban and associated terrorist groups from operating on its soil, including from materially interfering in the political or judicial processes of Pakistan. The bill would have to be passed by the full Ssenate and House and will have no immediate effect.
