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Kerry-Lugar bill passed by Congress, sent to Obama

* Aid to stop if Pakistan does not help fight terrorists
* Monitoring of nuclear supplier networks necessary
* Conditions set for military aid

WASHINGTON: The US Congress on Wednesday approved tripling non-military aid to Pakistan to help fight extremism, sending the measure to President Barack Obama for signing into law.

Obama had urged the bill’s passage to promote stability in a crisis-ridden nation that is key to the US war in Afghanistan. The final action on the legislation came as the House of Representatives approved it.

The legislation authorises $1.5 billion a year for the next five years as part of a bid to build a new relationship with Pakistan that no longer focuses largely on military ties, but also on Pakistan’s social and economic development. The bill also stipulates that US military aid would cease if Pakistan does not help fight “terrorists”, including Taliban and Al Qaeda.

“We can’t allow Al Qaeda or any other terrorist group that threatens our national security interests to operate with impunity in the tribal regions or any other part of Pakistan,” said the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Representative Howard Berman. “Nor can we permit the Pakistani state – and its nuclear arsenal – to be taken over by the Taliban,” he added.

To keep military aid flowing, Pakistan must also cooperate to dismantle nuclear supplier networks, said the bill. Islamabad could do this by offering “relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks”.

But some lawmakers expressed scepticism that Pakistan would ever become a real partner. “Both governments – the Chinese and the Pakistanis – plot and manoeuvre against our interests all the time,” said Representative Dana Rohrbacher, a Republican.

“The threat of radical Islam is real, but it’s not going to be solved by us being irresponsible” with billions in taxpayer money, he said. The House approved the bill by a voice vote. Its passage followed lengthy negotiations among lawmakers and the administration over what conditions to place on Pakistan, where officials had urged no strings be attached. reuters

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