The Kerry Lugar bill that would give a whooping US $ 7.5 billion non-military aid to Pakistan, which US President Barack Obama last week termed as a "down payment" and "investment" into America's future, would be introduced in the US Senate on Thursday.
The bill is being sponsored by Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and
Senator Richard Lugar, the Ranking Member of the Committee.
Obama has urged the Congress to facilitate an early passage of the bill. Being billed as a key to the success in Pakistan, the Kerry-Lugar bill authorises US $ 7.5 billion over the next five fiscal years in non-military aid. It advocates an additional US $ 7.5 billion over the subsequent five years.
The bill, however, conditions military aid on certification by Secretary of State that Pakistani security forces are making concerted efforts to prevent al Qaeda and oher terrorist groups from operating in the territory of Pakistan.
It also conditions military aid needs certification that Pakistan is making concerted efforts to prevent the Taliban from using the territory of Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to launch attacks within Afghanistan.
© 2024 Rediff.com -