US lawmaker insists aid curbs not meant to appease India

WASHINGTON-Seeking to soothe the outcry in Pakistan, a US Senator who co-authored fresh aid restrictions, insists the oversight provisions have nothing to do with appeasing the Indians, despite the fact that new defence legislation says Islamabad must not use anti-terror equipment to disturb regional balance of power.
Senator Bob Corkers comments came after the passage of the legislation on $700 million counterinsurgency aid for Pakistan that asks Defence Department to ensure that even reimbursements to Pakistan from Coalition Support Funds are not against the US national security interests.
The restrictions, coming on the heels of Kerry Lugar Bill fiasco, were also seen as yet another attempt at micromanaging Pakistani affairs.
The legislation is likely to be signed by President Barack Obama shortly as it approves $ 680 billion in US defence budget for the year 2010.
But Corker, a Republican, firmly denied that oversight requirements amounted to interference in Pakistans internal affairs or ways it deals with its neighbours.
He said the Pakistan-related provision only sets out typical reporting requirements on the US Administration-as is natural to the legislative process on Capitol Hill-and these requirements are not put on Pakistan. The US Congress, he said, wants to be supportive of a strong partnership with Pakistan both in its anti-terrorism efforts and economic development of its people.
'This has nothing to do with trying to in any way direct the military efforts of Pakistan. This is something that applies to our US government and our desire for them to make sure that that they are using the funds that we have allocated to them in ways that we prescribe, he added.
'So, this has nothing to do with us trying to micromanage what is happening in Pakistan at all.
Corker authored the Pakistan-related provisions along with Democratic Senator Robert Menendez.
The two legislators provision would mandate a determination by the US Secretary of Defence, alongwith the Secretary of State, before Pakistan is reimbursed with Coalition Support Funds, that the payment is both in the national security interests of the US, and will not affect the balance of power in the region. Asked whether the reference to regional balance of power was meant to appease the Indian lobby on the hill, Corker said, 'Not at all. The provisions in this defence authorisation bill have nothing to do with that.
The lawmaker added, 'I assure you that the language in the Defence Authorisation Bill that we put in place has nothing to do with any kind of micromanagement or interference in Pakistani affairs. The way we work in our own legislature, you know, we have, if you will, a balance of power on our own government.
When we authorise the money, we want to make sure that it is utilised in ways that we direct them. This has nothing to do with India. Its nothing to do with Pakistan-India relationship. It (the reporting requirement) has nothing to do with trying to interfere with how Pakistan is dealing with its neighbours or what Pakistan is doing with its own funding in its country.
Sen. Corker said the US Congress definitely desires an improvement in Pakistan-India relations.
'There is no question that we want to see the relations between India and Pakistan improve greatly, we know that while Pakistan has concerns about what is happening on its Eastern border, that it distracts from efforts inside the country and certainly what is happening on the Western border.
'And, yes, wed love to see that conditions be such that Pakistan did not fear what was happening on its Eastern border and that India does not fear what is happening on its Western border. So, there is no question that we would like to see those conditions improve, he added.
The lawmaker, who visited Pakistani Swat valley in August this year, praised Pakistans anti-terrorism drive and said Congressional support for Pakistan is at its highest in recent years.
'I am impressed by the incredible efforts the Pakistani military and the people of Pakistan are doing, the efforts they are putting forth to rid the country of the people who wish the country harm from within.
'We are dealing as partners and this is something important not just to Pakistan and our country but actually to the world, he said, referring to the Taliban threat.
'What you are doing in the efforts against Taliban what we are doing in Afghanistan and what we are doing in partnership with you is very very important. I think the bond between our countries has really strengthened tremendously, even over this last year.
He recognised a huge difference between Pakistans current efforts and those it was making a couple of years back.
On the Kerry-Lugar aid bill, Corker said 'it sends a message to the people of Pakistan that we are there for a long time and at long-term partnership with Pakistan.