ISLAMABAD: A visiting US lawmaker on Monday allayed concerns over a $7.5-billion American aid package, saying the legislation signed by President Barack Obama last week marks a true sign of friendship with the people of Pakistan.
Sen. John Kerry, one of the chief architects of the aid plan, met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Army Chief of Staff Ashfaq Kayani in Islamabad to counter protests over the package, which triples non-military aid to Pakistan.
Kerry said he hoped the long-term assistance would help bring about qualitative change in the lives of the people of Pakistan, especially in the areas worst hit by militancy, through direct investment in infrastructural development, schools, roads and health care.
During the meeting, Kerry assured Zardari that the United States would continue to provide all possible assistance to Pakistan in strengthening democracy, rule of law, economic development and its capability to contain extremism.
Gilani told the one-time presidential candidate that the United States should recognize the doubts raised about the bill and “address these concerns through both tangible initiatives as well as effective public diplomacy.”
The prime minister “stressed that Pakistan will never compromise on its sovereignty and core national security interests,” his office said in a statement.
Kayani has said the package posed “serious concern” on national security, stressing that “Pakistan is a sovereign state.”
Kerry’s visit coincided with a visit from Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command in Afghanistan.
In talks with Petraeus, Gilani called on the United States to speed up the payment of promised funds to help pay for relief efforts in the tribal region.
Petraeus said the US “acknowledges the sacrifices of Pakistan in the war on terror”.
The aid bill prevents the funding from being used for nuclear proliferation, to support militants or to attack neighboring countries and calls for a cut-off in aid if Pakistan fails to crack down on extremists.
Commentators say the backlash to the package was in part motivated by power play between the army and the civilian government and a desire by Zardari’s political opponents to turn up the heat on the embattled leader.
— With input from agencies
