CARVE - Pakistan speaks on Kerry-Lugar aid bill to Pakistan

Lahore: October 15, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

“Kerry-Lugar aid bill to Pakistan is the long term support bill will enhance Partnership with Pakistan with a belief which undermines our long-term efforts to defeat extremists, foster democratic change, and support transparent and accountable institutions that promote security and stability in Pakistan. As the bill is a way forward to combat extremism so it is of our interest and thus we made a study team on it” , says Mrs. Shaheen Bhatti, the Co-founder of CARVE – Pakistan.

 

In sharing the summery of the bill the co-founder of “Collaboration against religious violence and extremism” (Carve) Mr. Inderias Bhatti told the following provisions of the bill:

 

Key Provisions of the Kerry-Lugar Bill on Pakistan

01. Triples foreign assistance to $1.5 billion per year—as a long-term pledge to the people of Pakistan.  Authorizes $7.5 billion over the next 5 years ($1.5 billion annually for FY 2009 –2013) that is intended to emphasize economic growth and development, and advocates an additional $7.5 billion over the subsequent 5 years. 

02. De-links military from non-military aid.  In the past, security assistance has dwarfed development assistance: the Pakistani military could bypass civilian authorities to focus policy on its institutional interests.  Under Kerry-Lugar, economic assistance is no longer the poor cousin to military aid.  Rather than locking in a level of such aid which might not be in line with rapidly-changing Pakistani capabilities and commitment, the bill leaves the level of security aid to be determined on a year-by-year basis.

03. Conditions military assistance on certification that the Pakistani security forces are:
a. Making concerted efforts to prevent al Qaeda and associated terrorist groups from operating in the territory of Pakistan;
b. Making concerted efforts to prevent the Taliban from using the territory of Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to launch attacks within Afghanistan; and
c. Are not materially interfering in the political or judicial processes of Pakistan.

04. Detailed Pakistan Assistance Strategy Required. Requires the President to submit to Congress a detailed report outlining United States policy and a strategic plan with respect to assistance to Pakistan, including:
a. principal objectives of the United States;
b. the roles of Pakistan local, regional and national institutions;
c. amounts allocated to specific projects and programs as well as criteria to measure their effectiveness.

05. The non-security assistance is intended to be used for projects that benefit the people of Pakistan:
a. Just and democratic governance, including police reform, equipping and training ; independent judicial systems; political pluralism and rule of law; respect for human rights and promotion of independent media; transparency and accountability of government; anticorruption efforts; and countering the drug trade.
b. Economic freedom, including sustainable economic growth and sustainable use of natural resources; investments in energy and water; employment generation; and worker rights.
c. Investment in people, particularly women and children, including broad-based public primary and secondary education and vocational training; food security and agricultural development; quality public health; and higher education.

06. Requires benchmarks for measuring the effectiveness of U.S. assistance, including a systematic, qualitative basis for assessing whether desired outcomes are achieved.

07. Requires the President to submit a semi-annual report to Congress that describes in detail the assistance provided to Pakistan under this Act and assesses the effectiveness of U.S. assistance thus far, including any incidents of waste, fraud, and abuse.

08. Requires the Secretary of State, after consulting with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit to Congress an annual report on the progress of the Pakistani security forces.

09. Authorizes new money for administrative expenses, up to $20 million for auditing expenses, and up to $5 million for the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan to provide critical need development or humanitarian assistance.

10. Urges accountability and transparent reporting of Coalition Support Funds to further clarify purposes and impact.

11. Directs the Secretary of State (in consultation with DoD and DNI) to submit to Congress a comprehensive cross-border strategy for the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas.

 

While speaking on provisions Mr. Bhatti said that in introducing this bill, Senators Kerry and Lugar aim to help transform the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan: instead of a transactional, tactically-driven set of short-term exercises in crisis-management,

 

They rather aim to build a deeper, broader, long-term strategic engagement with the people (and not just the leaders) of this vitally important nation.  The approach used towards Pakistan emphasizes a long-term relationship built on mutual trust and cooperation of the United States as an ally with shared interests and goals, such as defeating militant extremists that threaten the national security of both countries.

 

Mr. James Rehmat said that over the years, U.S. assistance to Pakistan has fluctuated with political events. This made most Pakistanis believe that the United States will cut and run with Pakistan till it serves US purpose. The bill will rather make both the friendship and support lines in a mutual trustful way.