No Strings Attached to PaK Aid: John Kerry

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 5:24 pm

No Strings Attached to PaK Aid: John Kerry WASHINGTON: John Kerry, the top American Senator and architect of the newly-negotiated version of the Kerry-Lugar Pakistan aid bill which triples the non-military aid to Islamabad to USD 7.5 billion in the next five years, has said that “no conditions” were imposed on Islamabad in lieu of the non-military aid.

Terming as “unfortunate” the characterization of the bicameral legislation in some quarters in ways that are just not accurate, Kerry asserted that there is no conditionality whatsoever in the bill with respect to civilian and economic assistance that is provided.

Soon after the bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a voice vote last week, Senator Kerry had said this bill reaffirms the depth of America’s long-term commitment to the people and Government of Pakistan.

The bill, initially introduced in the Senate by Joe Biden, then in the capacity as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its ranking member, Senator Dick Lugar, has seen several changes and is now called Kerry-Lugar bill as it has been re-introduced by Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Lugar.

The bicameral legislation now awaits President Barack Obama’s signature.