WASHINGTON - Confronted with questions about the status of US aid to Pakistan, a State Department spokesperson told a news briefing Thursday that the legislation that freezes $700 million for the South Asian country merely includes a reporting requirement and that too could be waived. What this piece of legislation requires is that the administration make certain certifications as to how our general relationship with Pakistan is going in certain categories in order to release the money, but this is not about cutting funding or freezing funding, spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, when asked a number of times about the strong reaction in Pakistan to the measure. In addition, I would say that they usually include some kind of waiver authorities for the Secretary, she said, stressing the certifications are to be made by the US administration and are not responsibilities of the government of Pakistan. The freeze provision is part of a giant $662 billion defence budget for fiscal 2012 passed by US Senate 86-13 Thursday, a day after the US House of Representatives approved it 283-136. It will now be sent to President Barack Obama, who has said he would reluctantly sign it after months of fighting over the handling of suspected terrorists, especially those who are US citizens. The bill, which also places sanctions on Iran, calls for a hold on 60 per cent of Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund over the issue of Pakistan failing to act against the flow of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and raw materials for bombs. The bill requires that the Secretary of Defence submit a report that would include a strategy for enhancing Pakistans efforts to counter IEDs and information on whether Pakistan is making significant efforts to implement a strategy to counter IEDs. However, the State Department sought to downplay the Congress move to suggest that the legislation does not actually cut $700 million in military aid to Pakistan. Rather, it includes a reporting requirement. From what weve seen, from what our embassy (in Islamabad) has seen, there has been some misunderstanding of this in the Pakistani press. What this piece of legislation requires is that the administration make certain certifications as to how our general relationship with Pakistan is going in certain categories in order to release the money, Nuland told reporters. But this is not about cutting funding or freezing funding. Were working on setting the funding levels with the Congress. It is about imposing on the administration certain certification requirements before we would release the money that the Congress would give, she said. This is very similar to procedures that we have on other kinds of money for countries around the world. These are certification requirements. In addition, I would say that, you know, they usually include some kind of waiver authorities for the Secretary. Id also like to say this in no way impinges on Pakistani sovereignty. There have been some strange assertions in the Pakistani press which are inaccurate, Nuland said. Well, if we cant certify that were making progress, then we have to work with the Congress on what portion of the money would or wouldnt go, Nuland said when asked what happens when such a certification is not made. On the current civilian aid to Pakistan by the State Department, Nuland said all of these programmes are negotiated and done in cooperation with the government of Pakistan or with NGOs or other groups in Pakistan who have asked for our assistance. If and when we get to a stage where government-to-government programmes are no longer wanted or desired, then obviously we can give the money back to the American people, she said. Nuland said the United States understands Pakistans concerns over the loss of its soldiers in November 26 NATO strikes, and that a transparent investigation into the incident was taking place to determine the fact. We have been in constant and intense dialogue with our Pakistani counterparts. We understand the concern. Frankly, there is plenty of concern on the American side as well, she said. It (investigation) is still ongoing. When this tragic incident happened, you know that every senior American called every senior Pakistani, from the President to the Secretary on down, to express our condolences and to pledge a full, transparent investigation. So we are doing that investigation now.