Lawmakers unanimously approved the plan to provide US$7.5 billion (S$10.9 billion) in humanitarian and economic aid over five years. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON - THE US Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to triple civilian US aid to Pakistan, a bid to cement a long-term partnership to defeat Islamist fighters who threaten the nuclear-armed ally's stability.
DETAILS ABOUT THE MEASURE
THE measure de-links civilian aid aimed at boosting education, democratic governance, and sustainable economic growth for Pakistan's 170 million people from military assistance that would be approved on a year-to-year basis.
And it ties military aid to certification that Pakistan security forces are doing their utmost against Al-Qaeda, other terrorist groups, and the Taleban from using Pakistan's territory as a base while 'not materially interfering' in the country's political or judicial processes.
Lawmakers unanimously approved the plan to provide US$7.5 billion (S$10.9 billion) in humanitarian and economic aid over five years and recommend that level for another five years, while tying US military aid to progress against extremists.
'This legislation marks an important step toward sustained economic and political cooperation with Pakistan', said Senator Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the legislation in mid-June, and the two chambers must now work out and approve a compromise bill before President Barack Obama can sign the measure into law.
'Pakistan is facing a critical moment', Democratic Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who crafted the bill with Mr Lugar, said after lawmakers agreed to approve it without dissent.
Supporters of the measure say they hope it will convince Pakistanis who are deeply skeptical of US support and goals that Washington stands with them against Islamists over the long haul and has their best interests at heart.
'Today the Senate has made a clear bipartisan commitment to replace an atmosphere of mutual distrust and lack of accountability with a broad-based, durable commitment to Pakistan and its people', said Mr Kerry. -- AFP
