Riyadh hosts fraternal meeting of GCC, Jordan, and Egypt leaders    Saudi Arabia celebrates Founding Day on Saturday, marking three centuries of a proud legacy    Saudi foreign minister meets South African president on G20 sidelines in Johannesburg    Saudi FM at G20: Ensuring Palestinian self-determination key to lasting peace    Saudi airports record 128 million travelers in 2024    Riyadh Air to launch operations by end of 2025, CEO confirms Douglas expresses confidence in Boeing amid supply chain challenges    Al-Falih: Saudi Arabia is one of major countries attracting foreign investment    Netanyahu takes aim at West Bank after bus explosions near Tel Aviv    Body returned from Gaza is not Bibas mother, Israeli military says    Trump 'very frustrated' with Zelensky, says adviser    Hong Kong's main opposition party announces plan to dissolve    'Neighbors' canceled again, two years after revival    Al-Tuwaijri: Not a single day has passed in Saudi Arabia in 9 years without an achievement Media professionals urged to innovate in disseminating Kingdom's story to the world    Proper diet and healthy eating key to enjoying Ramadan fast    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    Al Hilal secures top spot in AFC Champions League Elite, set to face Pakhtakor in Round of 16    Al-Ettifaq's Moussa Dembélé undergoes surgery, misses rest of the season    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Al Ahli defeat Al Gharafa to seal AFC Champions League Elite knockout berth    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Controversy in Pakistan over US aid bill
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 10 - 2009

Pakistan's parliament debated on a US aid bill which critics say contains conditions that amount to a humiliating violation of sovereignty. The U.S. congress approved a bill on Sept. 30 tripling aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year for the next five years and sent it to President Barack Obama for signing into law. But Pakistan's army expressed “serious concern” about the bill, raising the possibility of tension with the civilian government which could embolden government critics.
The legislation, co-authored by Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar, mainly focuses on social and economic development of Pakistan, a front-line state in the US-led campaign against militancy. No conditions have been attached to development aid. But in an effort to address US concerns about terrorism, security related aid depends upon the U.S. secretary of state certifying to relevant congressional committees the following:
• That Pakistan is cooperating in efforts to dismantle nuclear-weapons related material supplier networks and providing relevant information from, or direct access to, Pakistani nationals associated with such networks.
• That the government is making sustained efforts towards combatting militant groups and has made progress on ceasing support by any elements within the military or its intelligence agency, particularly to any group that has conducted attacks against U.S. or allied forces in Afghanistan or against the territory or people of neighbouring countries.
• That Pakistan is preventing al Qaeda and other militant groups including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which was accused of last November's assault on the Indian city of Mumbai, from operating in Pakistan and attacking neighbouring countries.
• That Pakistan is dismantling terrorist bases in its northwest as well as in the city of Quetta and at Muridke in Punjab, where LeT supporters run a complex.
• That the Pakistani security forces are not “materially or substantially” subverting political or judicial processes.
The US secretary of state must also provide an assessment of the extent to which the government exercises effective civilian control of the military, including a description of the extent to which civilian leaders and parliament exercise oversight and approval of military budgets, the chain of command and the process of promotion of top military leaders.
Opposition politicians have criticized the government of President Zardari over the bill, saying the conditions are humiliating. Zardari has rejected the criticism, saying the bill's conditions do not undermine sovereignty.
Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and his top commanders expressed “serious concern” about clauses in the bill “impacting on national security”.
The military leaders did not elaborate but acknowledged it was parliament that would debate the issue and enable the government to respond. Prime Minister Gilani tried to soothe concern, telling the National Assembly the bill was not binding on Pakistan and vowing to build a consensus on it.
The military has ruled Pakistan for more than half its 62-year history and has a record of ousting civilian governments, so any disagreement between the military and the government will be watched closely. But for now, no one is predicting military intervention. However, analysts say the military's public disapproval of the bill could embolden the government's critics who could take to the streets.
The military could use the opposition to put pressure on the government over the clauses it objects to while avoiding direct conflict. The main opposition party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the last Pakistani leader to be deposed in a coup in 1999, has said it would not help or allow anybody to topple the government.


Clic here to read the story from its source.