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Delay in Pakistan aid to benefit U.S. enemies: Holbrooke |
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Updated at:
2215
PST, Tuesday, May 12, 2009 |
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WASHINGTON: U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the situation of Pakistan and Afghanistan similar to Vietnam.
“Pakistan in not a failed state,” he said, adding that delay in approval of aid for Pakistan would benefit the American enemies.
Holbrooke said whatever happens in Afghanistan also affects Pakistan.
The US envoy said it was "absolutely critical" to the war effort, despite the risk that the Taliban and al Qaeda will be driven further into Pakistan.
"We're aware of the consequence," he said.
Holbrooke argued that Pakistan's new democracy needs increased funding for building roads, combating poverty and capacity-building in the country.
Holbrooke also stressed the need for improved counterinsurgency training for the Pakistani Frontier Corps that fights in the tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan. And he said that U.S. funds will go toward "seriously upgrading" the weaponry of the Frontier Corps.
Holbrooke acknowledged that the U.S. is encouraging Pakistan to move more troops to its Western border.
He further said that PPP decision to remain in Punjab government is another big step toward a political alliance. He said that majority of Pakistanis back Swat truce deal, But added that Taliban violated the peace deal.
Sens. Kerry and Lugar introduced a bill last week that calls for a tripling of non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year for five years.
Lugar pressed Holbrooke on the need for a plan from the Administration about how the money will be spent.
Chairman U.S. Senate Committee Senator John F. Kerry has termed Pakistan’s action against insurgency in its north western areas as “the most difficult foreign policy challenge” for the U.S.
Obama is sending 21,000 more troops to Afghanistan, agreed to the replacement of the top US general in Afghanistan, announced Monday, and supports a bill being pushed by Senator John F. Kerry to increase aid to Pakistan's government to $1.5 billion a year.
In his opening statement at the hearing, Kerry, the committee's chairman, declared that "with its nuclear arsenal, terrorist safe havens, Taliban sanctuaries and growing insurgency, Pakistan has emerged as one of the most difficult foreign policy challenges we face."
The Massachusetts Democrat said that Obama's meetings last week with Pakistani President Asif Zardari and Afghan President Karzai were "a significant step forward," but much work remains to succeed with a "bold new strategy."
"Since President Obama called on Congress to pass a Pakistan aid bill, the dangers of inaction have risen almost by the day.
The government has struck an ill-advised deal that effectively surrendered the Swat Valley to the Taliban. Predictably, this emboldened the Taliban to extend their reach ever closer to the country’s heartland. In recent days we have seen encouraging signs that Pakistan’s Army is finally taking the fight to the enemy, but much remains to be done," Kerry said, according to prepared remarks released by the committee.
"Even as we help Pakistan’s government to respond to an acute crisis, we also need to mend a broken relationship with the Pakistani people. For decades, America sought Pakistani cooperation through military aid, while paying scant attention to the wishes of the population itself.
This arrangement is rapidly disintegrating. Today an alarming number of Pakistanis actually view America as a greater threat than Al Qaeda. Until this changes, there’s little chance of ending tolerance for terrorist groups— or persuading any Pakistani government to devote the political capital necessary to deny such groups sanctuary and covert material support."
The additional aid is an important first step, Kerry said. " Our aid to Pakistan aims to achieve more than just good deeds: It will empower the civilian government to show that it can deliver its citizens a better life. |
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