US Congress freezes $450 mn aid to Pakistan

Washington

The provision in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2017, if passed by the Congress, would not allow the US Government to waive this condition in ‘national interest’. According to NDAA 2017, as passed by the House Armed Services Committee last week, of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pakistan during the period beginning on October 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2017, $ 450 million would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless the Secretary of Defence certifies that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan.

The Defence Secretary also needs to certify that Pakistan is demonstrating commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using North Waziristan as a safe haven and is actively coordinating with Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, including the Haqqani Network, along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

There is similar certification requirement in the current fiscal 2016 ending on September 31, 2016, but the amount is $ 300 million. The Defence Secretary has not been able to give necessary certification for the release of such a fund to Pakistan so far.

The House Armed Services Committee says that it will continue to review the reimbursements made to Pakistan and how it conforms with the future of US policy, including key counterterrorism and security objectives, in the region. It also asked the Secretary of Defence to notify the congressional defence committees prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan for any logistical, military or other support.

The move comes days after the US told Pakistan to put forward its national funds to buy eight F-16s worth $ 700 million after some top Senators put a hold on the use of American tax payers’ money to partially finance them.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has said the US  is not using the Congressional objections as an excuse to deny Pakistan eight F-16 fighter jets at a subsidised rate. State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference when asked if it is just using Congress as an excuse not to give F-16 to Pakistan. The Administration, he said, has made the case to the Congress that it continue to support proposed sale of these eight F-16s to Pakistan to assist in Pakistan’s counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations.

“We believe that these F-16s have supported these kinds of operations to date. But key members of Congress have made it clear that they object to using foreign military financing funds to support this sale.