Washington: Two senior Senators have urged US to cut its hefty military assistance
to Pakistan because of its continued support to cross-border terrorism and nuclear
technology trade with North Korea.
In an amendment offered on April 3, Frank Pallone, co-founder of the Congressional
Caucus on India, and Joe Crowley, asked US administration to cut $ 75 million in
military aid to Pakistan out of the alloted $ 175 million.
But the amendment was withdrawn after debate.
"Given the current military dictatorship, and given that Pakistan just weeks ago
received a significant sum of money in military aid, I support striking $ 75 million
in military assistance," Pallone told the House.
Though it was encouraging that US is starting to publicly acknowledge Pakistan's
role in transferring nuclear equipment to North Korea, Pallone said he
was "disappointed that the administration continues to support military assistance
when it is clear that Pakistan exchanged equipment with North Korea, most likely to
challenge India".
Because of Pakistan's nuclear transfers, Symington sanctions, which barred US
assistance to Pakistan, would have been automatic. "But it was waived by Bush and
military assistance continues to flow through Pakistan," he said.
Noting that terrorism and violence have escalated to a devastating degree in Jammu
and Kashmir, Pallone expressed concern that military assistance to Pakistan will be
used to perpetuate terrorism in Kashmir and elsewhere in India.
Congressman Crowley told the House that "India has been a strong ally in the war on
terrorism and has also felt the pain of terrorist attacks just as the United States
has," referring to the recent massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits.
PTI
