Pakistan: The Kerry Lugar Bill
The Kerry Luger bill is essentially a non military aid package granted to Pakistan by the U.S in view of its precarious economic condition due to its indulgence in the war on terror as a front line allied state.
This bill grants Pakistan $1.5 billion annually for five years and comes along with stringent conditions on how to distribute and invest this money.
The conditions along with this bill come in the shape of military as well as economic checks which have instigated a lot of debate in this country and agitated its bloggers as well.
Shayan Khan at Pak Spectator writes an open letter to Mr. John Kerry:
Pakistan’s concerns over Kerry-Lugar bill are there for sure, but they are not that important. The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has backed a bill that would triple economic assistance for Pakistan, a key US ally in the fight against terrorism, to 7.5 billion dollars over five years. But it perhaps come as a surprise for the Kerry that Pakistanis don’t really think much of any aid or such things. They want US to take them as humans like themselves and to understand that the people dying from the drone Attacks are 99% Pakistanis, and only perhaps 1% are anything to do with militancy. (The) war on terror has given Pakistan the gory gifts of suicide attacks and bomb blasts and the economic life in Pakistan has come to a grinding halt.
Adil Najam talks about the trust deficit between Pakistan and the U.S.A in relation to the aid promised by this bill:
The debate we are now seeing is one more manifestation of the deep deficits of trust that have marked all US-Pakistan relations. In the absence of trust, Pakistanis – even those who might otherwise support this Bill – simply refuse to accept that America could possibly be interested in Pakistan’s interests. For the very same reasons, Americans – even those who strongly wish to see a stronger Pakistan – simply refuse to acknowledge the intensity with which Pakistan has always sought “friends, not masters.”
Hamid Abbasi at Chowrangi stresses on the general perception of this bill in Pakistan:
Being here nearly 10,000 miles away I and many like me have no real grudge with the amount, but it’s the conditionality of the bill which has really pinched every soul. For 8 years they have hijacked our national dream, have given us a war that wasn’t our originally, taken our sovereign right of existence and in the end they have repaid us in a manner which shouldn’t be strange to the realist, but of course we have for long turned into an idealist masses, linking false expectations and desires from an outside power.
After the announcement of this bill and its review by Pakistan's armed forces (perhaps the biggest power in this land), there were major reservations put forward to the political setup by them and these issues are being discussed with the U.S government.
Amjad Malik at Teeth Maestro comments on this issue pointing to the conditions put on Pakistan army:
This aid package may be doable or not but is quite indicative that civil rule is asked to do what it cannot deliver in 100 years, but may lose what it has got ‘the Govt’. In the past, President tried to be friend with India single-handedly but failed. Interior Ministry tried to bring (ISI) Inter Services Intelligence under its control, but in vain. Now committing to curb military and control its promotions is such a thorny issue which may cost the civilians its Govt and leaders their lives. We have seen what happened to Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif when they acted without consensus and consultation amongst political forces. One could not save his life and the other had to remain in exile for years.
Obviously the strong reaction from Pakistan has had its impact on the American citizen media as well, with commentators urging a rethink of dolling out aid without results.
Sheila Herrling at Huffington post talks about reworking the U.S aid program:
The Kerry-Lugar bill needs to make sure that the coherence of U.S. policies – how they either work in synergy or at cross-purposes — is evaluated and strengthened to get the biggest bang from our foreign assistance bucks.
Patricia Lee Sharpe takes it one comic step further by examining the bill as a Pakistani would on the The whirled view. She notes:
Reading in my Pakistani persona, I found myself getting more and more angry. I was in the mood to throw all 33 pages across the room—or maybe to rip them up and stomp on them. “Is nothing to be free of American meddling and dictation?” I find my Pakistani self raging. “It was fine, it was innocuous, back when the yahoos wanted to do a little project here, a little project there, a seminar, a conference, but scaled up like this! They want to take over our whole life, beginning tomorrow!”
The blog Remember Jenkin's Ear just terms the whole bill as a major pain!
On balance, I'm inclined to wonder whether Kerry-Lugar is worth it. The Pakistanis seem to be really upset, the Indians are annoyed, and if it follows in the tradition of American foreign aid generally, it will be more helpful to Americans well placed to take advantage of the bill than to foreigners. The Pakistanis who object are correct that the conditions on this aid infringe Pakistani sovereignty. I think the Indians are also correct in suggesting that we probably cannot trust the Pakistan army. So on a practical level, this aid package is a can of worms. There is also an ethical issue. It is not obvious why Pakistanis should get the aid while Indians, who aren't tolerating groups planning terrorist attacks in the US, don't get similar aid.
With a major redraft of the irritating conditions in the Kerry Lugar bill in the offing and a military initiative in Waziristan is about to begin, it still remains to be seen who's ball will roll in who's court.
30 comments
The bill is stupid and will not help anybody — much to the contrary. The problem is not money or aid, it is an ideology. Neither the US or Pakistan have any idea of what to do or how to do it.
Ghulam, this act is not ‘satanic’, it is just stupid and ineffective. Why must people like you always blame others for your problems? 99% of Pakistan’s problems come from Pakistan, not the US, India, or non-Muslims. The “enemies of Pakistan”, as you call them, are those that follow and ideology that produces nothing but hate and violence. You can’t solve your problems because you wont even consider the source of the problem.
AM, How dare you ask an Indian “Why so much hatred?” If case you don’t know, they teach hate against India in your schools and madrassas. Whatever the problems religious minorities have in India, it is nothing compared to the vile treatment and violence they must face in Pakistan (The few that are left!).
Once again, people like you and G are typical examples of an ideology that can only blame others for your problems and the evils you do.
Kactuz
How Section 203 (c) of Kerry-Lugar hurts USA interests.
U.S Congresswoman Jackson Lee has a sharp insight into US interests in the South Asian region and is a vocal admirer of Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism, yet even she failed to anticipate the negative impact some contentious and ambiguous wording in the Kerry Lugar Bill (KLB) would have.To read more…
http://tinyurl.com/yk8dg73
Pakistan is not a begger it has vast amount of goods,it can stand of its own. Just i have to request pakistani to be united.we can boldly say “we nor want this aid neither need”…………………..we are pure pakistani and can survive ourselves..PAKISTAN ZINDABAD…….may Allah bless our country and our’s independent living(Aameen)
Well, The comments of AM are to be praised and he is patriot indeed, but let me look at you as an outsider and put in my views,may be I am an Indian but at the same time I am more human than Indian. With your words “do not forget Pakistan experiences the same blow every single day, some days even multiple. You read these articles about Pakistan”, Yes we do read these articles, and the whole world does, but did you people ever think as to why no one really bothers unlike when it happen to India or any other country, I would blame that on your Government, and by Government I mean the people, because I am guessing there is no kingship in Pakistan and the Government is elected. Now let me tell you what has led to this implications about Pakistan,
1. Always choosing aid from the wrong person at the wrong time, even when the whole world in one voice says, this is not good.
2. Internal Terrorism
3. Making statements about neighboring countries when they are busy trying to help themselves improve.
4. And blaming neighboring countries where they are to be blamed.
Now let me conclude this part by saying one thing. All the above I mentioned are me as human. Because I believe for any person with heart the hierarchy goes this way, First you are human, then your Patriot and then you are a son. The basis any one should learn.
And now let me tell all others who have been saying or mouthing about my country. I got only one statement.
All you people should have known about 26/11 in India. India is such a democracy where even the terrorists who killed so many people in the country got support from human rights people even before they were taken into trial. Such is my country and I bet no other country would allow such voicing of thought and even safeguarding the threat to the country. Now let me put an example. The Big Boss has invaded the whole of Afghanistan and killed lot of civilians in the nae of what ?????.
I could give more examples, But it will go on and on, It is for you’ll to understand.
Lastly I do not mean to hurt anyone, these are the feelings of a person filled with agony and pain because of the prevailing conditions.
Adanan
Pakistani Art of Begging:
I am an ex-Pakistani now living in the United States of America as a citizen. Let me tell you living in Pakistan was hell for me and for my family. Pakistanis and their Govt. are such hypocrites that I can not even begin to describe in words their sorry state of affairs. They are such cunning artful beggars who have mastered the game corruption and jihad as a rule of thumb. Pakistan has always been a beggar state of the West, mostly a ‘crumb snatcher’ of the US. If Pakistan was such a proud nation why do they keep sending their representatives to beg for more, more and more from the US, honestly it is quite sickening. Where is the pride in it?
Yes you have a nuclear bomb, so what. How does it benefit you? It doesn’t feed the nation. It doesn’t make you bigger or better in any sense of the word. You have already lost East Pakistan, are you ready to hand over West Pakistan to the Arabs? I don’t think India will let it happen. You have the bomb so you can someday perhaps use it against India or hand it over to the terrorists, that’s all. Pakistanis are known to play this terrorist card all the time with self defeating results; from the mosques to Pakistani presidents (usually dictators) the game of corruption is played out to the fullest, undermining the rights and freedom of the people. And yet no one is ashamed of their evil deeds. Let me ask you a very simple question: Is Pakistan or any Muslim country capable of fostering democracy? The answer is big NO. Simply because Islam doen’t teach merits of peace or democracy. The history of Pakistani terrorist acts speaks for itself.
Don’t be jealous of India now, they have taken giant steps to uplift their country in terms of democracy, prosperity, and Education. The most Important tool that India has employed is to adopt a magic rule of (what we call in the western democracy): ‘separation of church and state that’s how the countries become progressive and self-sustaining. I’m afraid, Pakistan will never have such luck. It is shackled by it’s own draconian sharia and blasphemy laws. The image of Pakistan is so tarnished that it may never get out this cesspool, to put it mildly.
The holy Bedouin brothers are making a holy mess of Pakistan, yet the Pakistanis turn their blind eye on them: Just look at what’s going on inside Pakistan right now, a total desolation. When your imams and the govt. teach such degree of hate and bigotry nobody in their right mind is going to respect you or side with you in time of need. So stop begging and start learning from your mistakes.
people have their opinions but ALMIGHTYS orders govern the universe.inspite al these difficulties PAKISTAN will not b lost.INSHALLAH PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
It is a general form of Aid that USA gives to the puppets of their own in developing countries.USA has given aid only to the elite class of pakistan and not to the people of Pakistan.USA didn’t construct any dam nor any power facility in the country but left Black water.thousands of CIA agents in the country that is killing the poor citizens of pakistan.
Pakistanis are deprived of US positive side.They remember only US aircrafts missels , bombs and drones and not the engineering of US because of the US policies.
Small ideas! Few things for sure. Pakistan is around and will be for quite some time. Nehru said 5 years. Broken, bad, brash or fundamentalist we are around even after 60 years plus.
US think tanks make Hollywood scenarios of failed state but we are still around! Politics or no politics certain things are clear Islam and fundamentalism are our problems we will sort them out amongst ourselves. So one one should worry!
However, no dictation from US. Cooperation yes. To my Indian friends we are not dying to be friendly with you unless you also do the same. So do not expect handshakes soon.
Just do not worry so much! We are here to stay and remember if we go down you will either go down with us or after us! A small difference perhaps! So please see the picture clearly.