NEW YORK: - A leading American newspaper on Monday asked US Congress to approve a legislation which would provide substantial long-term increases in economic assistance to Pakistan and tighter monitoring of American military assistance. An editorial in The New York Times also urged President George W. Bush to "recast" Washington-Islamabad relations -- making clear that he is committed to strengthening both Pakistan's democracy and its ability to fight extremism -- as Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani began his official visit here. Introduced by top lawmakers Joseph Biden (Democrat) and Richard Lugar (Republican) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committeee, the Congressional legislation on Pakistan recommends tripling of non-military aid to $1.5 billion a year. "The imbalance it seeks to remedy between lavish but misdirected military aid and miserly economic assistance was highlighted in the recent Congressional skirmish over who would pay for modernizing Pakistan's jet fighters, " The Times said. In addition, The Times made a plea to Congress to approve funds needed to upgrade Pakistan's aging F-16s. "The modernized F-16 is a high-technology plane, mainly intended to deter India, and is poorly suited to counterinsurgency operations along the Afghan border," the paper said, noting that the original plan was for Pakistan to pay the USD 230 million a year. But now the White House and Mr. Gilani want Congress to pick up the tab. Gilani, it said, is "eager to keep the Pakistani military happy " and the new army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, is a professional who has supported the transition to civilian government." "If Washington pays, it would also, in theory, free up those millions for badly needed social spending," the editorial said, adding that if spent wisely, that money could go far. "Under present aid formulas, Washington can pay for the F-16 upgrades only by shifting funds from equipment better suited for fighting the Taliban. Pakistan needs more such equipment " not less " including Cobra helicopters and night-vision goggles. "Pakistan should not be modernizing the F-16's at all, but that deal was made long ago. Congress should hold its nose and approve this year's F-16 money, plus additional emergency funds for the helicopters and goggles. Then it should quickly enact the Biden-Lugar legislation," it added. That way, The Times said Pakistan will have reliable funding for future social programmes and be able to focus American military aid on counterterrorism. "It is an imperfect solution but could be the start of a better relationship " one that promotes democracy and the fight against Al Qaeda," the editorial said. The editorial also noted that Gilani's constituents deeply resent the United States for propping up and enabling their former dictator, Pervez Musharraf. "President Bush, who directed that enabling, must have his own serious doubts about Gilani's willingness to fight Taliban and Qaeda forces that are using Pakistan as a safe haven."