WASHINGTON: Two legislative amendments seeking a cut in the US aid being provided to the Pakistan, have been defeated in the House of Representatives. Majority of the house members argued that it is essential to maintain friendly relations with a nuclear armed nation, despite of the fact that it is not doing well as expected in the ‘war against terrorists’.
The first amendment in the US House of Representatives, was moved by the Congressman Ted Poe who sought a cut in the US aid to Pakistan from USD 900 million to USD 700 million. The amendment was defeated by the House by a recorded vote of 191 to 230.
Another amendment, moved by Dana Rohrabacher to prohibit funds from being provided in aid to Pakistan has been defeated with a recorded vote of 84 to 236.
Speaking on the amendment Mr Ted Poe said, ” I could have cut the total amount, if i had the power to do so. Pakistan is on the wrong side of the War. Here is the reason Mr Chairman, the Pakistanis hid Osama-bin-laden and we had to take him out from Pakistan. The whole world knows that Pakistan has hid him. After they hid Osama bin Laden, amazingly, the CIA section chief in Pakistan is poisoned. He comes back to the US. He believes, and the CIA believes, that it was the Pakistani ISI that poisoned him. I agree with them,” Poe alleged.
“This is truly ridiculous. They take our money and the money goes all the way to fund terrorists and their organisation and eventually, those terrorists attack Americans. I don’t know what’s the need for us to indirectly fund those terrorists”, Poe said.
On the other hand, seeking support for his amendment congressman Rohrabacher said, “We are funding a government that has committed crimes against its own people. By doing so, we are unknowingly funding those terrorist organisations which harms the people of the US and other countries”.
However, majority of the House were not in favour of cutting aid to Pakistan. One of the House members opposing the amendments, said “We should not forget that Pakistan is a nuclear armed country. It is a fact, that there has not been much support from Pakistan in matters of concern. But, if we cut aid i think what ever relation we had with them as of now will totally demolish and thereby, making the issue of fighting against terrorism a nightmare”.
