US Senate panel votes to cut aid to Pak

May 23, 2012 04:06

In a fresh warning to Pakistan, a Senate panel has approved a foreign aid budget for next year that slashes US assistance to Islamabad by more than half and threatens further reductions if it fails to open supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The Senate Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations also cut aid to Iraq, Egypt and Afghanistan while adding $50 million for Jordan to help it handle the influx of refugees from a violent Syria.

By voice vote, the panel approved the overall bill totaling USD 52.1 billion, which is USD 2.6 billion less than what President Barack Obama requested for the 2013 fiscal year beginning October 1 and USD 1.2 billion below current spending. The full Appropriations Committee meets tomorrow to give its final approval to the bill.

Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat and the chairman of the subcommittee, and the panel's top Republican, Senator Lindsey Graham, said money for Pakistan was cut 58 per cent as lawmakers question Islamabad's commitment to the fight against terrorism and as resentment lingers on Capitol Hill a year after Osama bin Laden was killed deep inside Pakistan.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

'Aaj batting tera Jassi bhai karega'

Jasprit Bumrah was seen practicing some shots in the nets ahead of MI's clash against DC.

What's Nirmalaji Queueing For?

Celebs and commoners cast their votes in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election on Friday, April 26, 2024

Is Salman Planning To Move Out Of Mumbai?

'With his safety in the city being jeopardised, Bhai is looking at moving to his farmhouse in Panvel permanently.'

Arms, ammunition found in CBI raid in Bengal's Sandeshkhali

The CBI during its probe got inputs of a large cache of arms hidden in Sandeshkhali. On Friday morning, a CBI team started a search operation during which the arms, including foreign-made pistols, were seized, the officials said.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's loan, deposit growth may be impacted after RBI curbs

Kotak Mahindra Bank's loan and deposit growth are likely to be affected after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked the private-sector lender not to take on board new customers through the bank's online and mobile banking channels and...