The price of US aid

An aspect of the bill that needs careful consideration are the conditionalities that might be tacked on to it, if not now, then in the future, as it moves further doen the passage corridor, and as can be done by any member of Congress who can muster enough votes to have it passed. As has been seen during the passage of the current bill, the Indian lobby is active to have conditions tacked on, which do not advance American interests, but Indian, and at the expense of Pakistan. This particular aid bill has also seen attempts to increase American control using the mantra of 'accountability', and the passage of the bill, which still has to go through the House of Representatives, and then receive President Obama's signature, will by no means end this.
The passage of this aid bill was an inevitability, given Pakistan's importance to the War. However, that does not mean Pakistanis need welcome it, especially if all it leads to are more extravagance by government, and a return to the free spending ways of the past. This aid bill will be judged by whether it achieves the economic growth denied Pakistan by restricting market access, and how much independence it leaves to Pakistan, which will probably not be more than at present, which is not very much.