WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Tuesday passed the National Defence Authorization Act for the next fiscal year that includes short leashed military assistance to Pakistan.
The bill was voted in favor by at least 85 members, and contains various controversial amendments that the Obama administration objected. It had earlier proposed almost 800 million dollar for assistance to Pakistan. Out of the amount the Senate had proposed to restrict 300 million dollars arguing that Pakistan has to take demonstrated action against the Haqqani Network. The Senate panel, last month, had approved the legislation also requiring the defence secretary to certify to the Congress that Islamabad was taking steps to curtail Haqqani network. It had, however, favored the continuation of security assistance to Pakistan.
The Senate Armed Services Committee had noted that terrorist attacks continue to plague Pakistan and strongly supports efforts by the Pakistani government to take steps to degrade and defeat terrorist network and activities within its borders. "The committee believes that security assistance for Pakistan should continue," it said.
The amended restrictions were contested by the Obama administration saying that it will "unnecessary complicate" progress in bilateral ties and would be against America's national interest. Just last week, the White House said, "We share the Committee's concerns regarding the threat posed to our forces and interests in Afghanistan by the Haqqani network and we continue to engage with Pakistan at the highest levels regarding the need for concerted action specially against the group."
The restriction imposed but the Senate would "unnecessarily complicate progress in US Pakistan bilateral relationship on this issue and would limit the Secretary of Defence's ability to act in the US national security interest," it said.
On other issues in the Act, Republican Senator John McCain has showed his disappointment saying that the bill does not include a program that would help Afghans who worked for the American troops to move to the US.
