A bill with very tough restrictions on military assisstance was passed by the US Congress in case of Pakistan.
The Congress also seeks determination from the Obama administration that the funds are used properly, and will not used to affect the balance of power in the region.
The Defence Authorisation Bill for 2010 includes the amendments by Senators Bob Mnendez and Bob Bob Corker, according to which the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary of the State are required to give a determination that the payment is both in the national interest of USA and it will also not affect the balance of power in the region.
This determination has to be given before Pakistan is reimbursed with the Coalition State Fund. The new limits also include efforts to track where US military hardware sent to Pakistan ends up.
The US Senate voted 68-29 in favour of $680-billion defence spending bill, which was earlier adopted by the House of Representatives by a vote of 281-146 on October 8th. The Bill now goes to President Barack Obama for his final approval.
The mova came as the Pakistani Military fought through the sixth day of a major offensive agianst the terror organisations in the sensitive Soth Waziristan, the strongest Taliban area along the border with Afghanistan.
–DR. NAVRAJ SINGH SANDHU (PAHS-1).