US Special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke [ Images ], said the bill requires only reporting by the executive branch - the Obama administration -- on progress toward long-term security and stability in Pakistan.
The 2010 Defense Authorisation Bill was passed by the Senate on Thursday and the House of Representatives early this month. The bill provides for a military assistance of $ 2.3 billion to Pakistan in one year, in addition to the $ 1.5 billion non-military aid per annum for the next five years as approved by the Kerry-Lugar Bill, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama [ Images ] early this month.
Addressing mediapersons at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, Holbrooke said, "There are no conditions on Pakistan. There are reporting requirements onus. And there's been a total and, I believe, willful distortion of this among some people in Pakistan."
"Well, then, let me tell you, there are no conditions in this bill. There are no conditions. I don't want to get into legalisms here, but there are requirements on us," he said in reply to a query.
"The Congress wants the secretary of defense, in the case of this bill (Defense Authorisation) and the Secretary of State, in the case of Kerry-Lugar-Berman, to report to them on certain issues before and during the process of releasing the funds," Holbrooke said.
Holbrooke even termed the bill as 'pro-Pakistan.' "So this is a pro-Pakistan bill. And I pray that your colleagues in Islamabad [ Images ] report it accurately so we don't have another misunderstanding," Holbrooke said when a Pakistani journalist asked whether the Defense Authorisation Bill imposes conditions on Pakistan, despite the fact that Pak army is running successful military operation against Taliban [ Images ] in Waziristan and other tribal regions of the country.
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