House of Representatives votes to block $450 million US aid to Pakistan

Kshatriya87

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WASHINGTON: Ignoring objections of the White House, the Republican majority House of Representatives has approved the National Defense Authorisation Act which blocks $450 million aid to Pakistan for failing to take action against the dreaded Haqqani network.

The NDAA 2017 (H R 4909) was passed by the US House of Representative (277-147) on Wednesday night, which among others included approval of three major amendments reflecting the strong anti-Pak sentiment prevailing among the US lawmakers.

As a result, as per the House version of the Bill, the Obama administration must certify that Pakistan has met before releasing $450 million in aid.

"Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani network senior leaders and mid-level operatives".

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's amendment adds an additional requirement that the secretary of defense certify to Congress that Pakistan is not using its military or any funds or equipment provided by the US to persecute minority groups seeking political or religious freedom.

The NDAA-2017 also includes the sense of the Congress that Shakil Afridi is an international hero and that the government of Pakistan should release him immediately from prison.

NDAA-2017 now needs to be passed by the Senate, before it can be sent to the White House for the US President Barack Obama to sign it into law.

Early this week, the White House had expressed strong objections to several provisions of the bill, including the one related to $450 million in aid to Pakistan.

"The administration objects to section 1212 (of HR 4919), which would make USD 450 million of CSF (Coalition Support Fund) to Pakistan ineligible for the Secretary of Defense's waiver authority unless the Secretary provides a certification to the Congressional defense committees," the White House said in its statement.

"We share the committee's concerns regarding the threat posed to our forces and interests in Afghanistan by the Haqqani Network, and we continue to engage with Pakistan at the highest levels regarding the need for concerted action specifically against the group," the White House said.

However, Congressman Mark Thornberry, chairman of the house foreign affairs committee late Wednesday night decided to ignore the White House's objection to this and asked the members of the House to approve these amendments in block, for which no voting took place.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Congressman Ted Poe Last year, alleged that the Haqqani Network and the Taliban killed more Afghan civilians and troops than in any other year since the Taliban was toppled in 2001.

"My amendment adds a fourth condition on the aid to Pakistan. This new condition requires the administration to certify that Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level operatives," he said.

"This forces Pakistan to make a choice: either go after the Haqqani Network in a public way that it has never done before or lose hundreds of millions of dollars of US aid," Poe said.

The amendment moved by Rohrabacher makes it mandatory for the administration to certify that Pakistan is not using its military or any funds or equipment provided by the United States to persecute minority groups "seeking political or religious freedom," including the Balochi, Sindhi, and Hazara ethnic groups and minority religious groups, including Christian, Hindu, and Ahmadiyya Muslim.

"It is time to end this irrational support that we give to Pakistan," Rohrabacher demanded on the floor of the House arguing that the US has given more than $30 billion in aid since 2002.

"It is only prudent that we increase certification required to release American military or economic aid to Pakistan," he said.
"It behooves us not to finance Pakistan's brutal suppression of ethnic groups and religious minorities like the Baloch and the Sindhis who are under attack today simply for seeking their political and religious freedom," he said.
"I would ask my colleagues to join with me and to stand also with the people around the world. Send a message: If you stand with the US, we will not forget you; we will stand with you.
The people of the US and the US Congress stand tall with you and appreciate that youhave risked your lives in a way that saved American lives," Rohrabacher said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...n-US-aid-to-Pakistan/articleshow/52357890.cms
 

Neo

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This is a blessing for Pakistan. Aid is the only thing keeping us together. Kill it and US won't have any leverage.

Best way to respond is to close the NATO transit routes now and stop sharing Intel with them. Let the American soldiers die in Afghanistan.
 

Blackwater

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This is a blessing for Pakistan. Aid is the only thing keeping us together. Kill it and US won't have any leverage.

Best way to respond is to close the NATO transit routes now and stop sharing Intel with them. Let the American soldiers die in Afghanistan.

intel ??? your ISI with haqannis is responsible for attacks on NATO troops in Afghanistan.

you are one of those 18 crore jaaazbati pakis, who think $$$ grows on paki tree ..... ask your govt and fauj whos katora is empty and they need every penny and ameriki hathiyaar to survive
 

Bornubus

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Pakis are suffering the consequences of Double crossing US.

In any case they have Jf 17 Duniya ka bada jadeed tareen tayarra.
 

Navnit Kundu

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Best way to respond is to close the NATO transit routes now and stop sharing Intel with them. Let the American soldiers die in Afghanistan.
As an Indian I wholeheartedly endorse your recommendations. There is a loose consensus here that some American blood sure needs to be spilled, they are having it too easy, someone ought to raise the cost of operating military bases in our backyard and dictating terms to us. Unfortunately we both know that is not going to happen. Blocking the aid legally simply shuts the door to just the electronic mode of transfer of money, it doesn't stop the transfer of money itself. For the CIA this is not a moral problem, simply a logistical one. What used to be a swift bank-to-bank transfer will now simply have to be done in hard cash. The CIA will put bundles of dollars in suitcases and carry them to Pakistan on horse-backs, or mule-backs or whichever animal you prefer.

Meanwhile Indians will start celebrating prematurely as a victory of Indian diplomacy, Pakistani deep state will use it as an opportunity to consolidate anti-American sentiment in the nation, the media will start howling about how many sacrifices Pakistan has made in the war on terror and how the US has turned their backs on the land of the pure. Token demonstrations will be held, roads will be stopped. Then one fine day the CIA's pet mules will arrive in ̶I̶s̶l̶a̶m̶a̶b̶a̶d̶ Rawalpindi and before we know it, it will be business as usual; The Pakistani baby will suddenly stop brawling and crawl back to breastfeeding on American tits again. Like clockwork.

Moral : Beggars can't be choosers.
 
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Kshatriya87

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Neo

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Amen to that! Please do take your so-called aid and your alliance to India and get the he'll out of my country.
Quite rich to blame others for supporting terrorism when you own the biggest terrorist organization, the CIA, yourself. You make or break a country to serve your own interests, use your powerful media to mislead the world. You have waged more wars since WW2 and killed more civilians than any other country. You are the only nation to have used nuclear weapons.

This is not the nineties and Pakistan is not as weak and vulnerable as it was. We have better options and more reliable friends now. Cut off your aid, every single penny please but don't blame us if your soldiers start dieing in Afghanistan.
 

Kshatriya87

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Amen to that! Please do take your so-called aid and your alliance to India and get the he'll out of my country.
Quite rich to blame others for supporting terrorism when you own the biggest terrorist organization, the CIA, yourself. You make or break a country to serve your own interests, use your powerful media to mislead the world. You have waged more wars since WW2 and killed more civilians than any other country. You are the only nation to have used nuclear weapons.

This is not the nineties and Pakistan is not as weak and vulnerable as it was. We have better options and more reliable friends now. Cut off your aid, every single penny please but don't blame us if your soldiers start dieing in Afghanistan.
You think stopping aid is going to stop drone strikes?
 

Neo

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You think stopping aid is going to stop drone strikes?
Eventually it will. As long as we keep taking money, they keep the leverage and will continue to bully us, blackmail us, bomb us.

In the nineties they used the weapons...F-16 embargo but we developed the JF-17. The only leverage left is money, which again goes to the corrupt leadership instead of where it is needed.

Once we start shooting down these drones, they'll get the message.
 

Kshatriya87

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Eventually it will. As long as we keep taking money, they keep the leverage and will continue to bully us, blackmail us, bomb us.

In the nineties they used the weapons...F-16 embargo but we developed the JF-17. The only leverage left is money, which again goes to the corrupt leadership instead of where it is needed.

Once we start shooting down these drones, they'll get the message.
Even if they don't have any leverage, what are you going to do?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 

Neo

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Even if they don't have any leverage, what are you going to do?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
As a super power, they will always be there. But once we stop the aid and start shooting down their drones, there's not much they can do. The congress is using the aid to justify sanctions. They loose if they stop, not us. It is well understood that they need us more than we need them. Do you really think that blocking $450 million dollar could hurt us? how about we close the transit routes or start asking market price? What if we start deporting those 3 million Afghan refugees/terrorists immediately?
 

Kshatriya87

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But once we stop the aid and start shooting down their drones, there's not much they can do.
Let's face it. The PA does not have guts to shoot down a US drone. They will condemn the strikes, yes but never shoot it down.

The congress is using the aid to justify sanctions.
And what then? You should be even more concerned with the sanctions coming. Once the sanctions hit, all you will have is China and that too not to full extent.

They loose if they stop, not us.
How will they lose if they gain (assuming they do) India? India would be much much better option for them to counter China.

Do you really think that blocking $450 million dollar could hurt us?
That amount is just part of the billions worth of aid pakistan has been receiving over the years. Its not just the question of 450 million or a few jets. Its a question of billions / year plus the occasional bail outs pakistan has been receiving.

how about we close the transit routes or start asking market price?
Come on now, you think the americans can't pay market price? Be reasonable.

What if we start deporting those 3 million Afghan refugees/terrorists immediately?
Again, you are expecting too much american concern here. They don't give a shit about all these refugees. Did you see them worrying too much about the millions of syrian refugees? They didn't even break a sweat.
 

SANITY

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Eventually it will. As long as we keep taking money, they keep the leverage and will continue to bully us, blackmail us, bomb us.

In the nineties they used the weapons...F-16 embargo but we developed the JF-17. The only leverage left is money, which again goes to the corrupt leadership instead of where it is needed.

Once we start shooting down these drones, they'll get the message.
Taking money is more a need of Pakistan than their corruption. Once you stop the aid and start shooting down their drones, they will send something that won't leave you able to shoot anything.
 

Neo

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Let's face it. The PA does not have guts to shoot down a US drone. They will condemn the strikes, yes but never shoot it down.
If the situation deteriorates, at some point the govt will have to choose. We haven't had drone attacks for a while, people and the military is not just ready to have it again. Certainly not in Balochustan.

And what then? You should be even more concerned with the sanctions coming. Once the sanctions hit, all you will have is China and that too not to full extent.
There's no legal ground for sanctions other than stopping aid. We have already built the bomb and demonstrated the capability. There is no going back.

How will they lose if they gain (assuming they do) India? India would be much much better option for them to counter China.
India is a pauwn, will serve US' interests against China. She does not border Afghanistan and can not replace Pakistan in the region. Even Obama understood this and offered the F-16.

That amount is just part of the billions worth of aid pakistan has been receiving over the years. Its not just the question of 450 million or a few jets. Its a question of billions / year plus the occasional bail outs pakistan has been receiving.
No it is not. Economic and military aid is less than a billion, most of it is conditional and gets blocked anyways.
Coalition Funds donot count as aid. It's remboursement we get for our services to US/Nato

Come on now, you think the americans can't pay market price? Be reasonable.
They can and they should! Pakistan doesn't have an official agreement regarding the transit fees. US didn't pay a single penny till 2008 as official transit fees.

Again, you are expecting too much american concern here. They don't give a shit about all these refugees. Did you see them worrying too much about the millions of syrian refugees? They didn't even break a sweat.
What about the impact on Afghan deprived economy and the social unrest. The blame will not be on us but them. The mercenaries will join local Taliban and start killing Americans.
 

Neo

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Taking money is more a need of Pakistan than their corruption. Once you stop the aid and start shooting down their drones, they will send something that won't leave you able to shoot anything.
War? Try getting that past the UNSC. There is no legal ground nor popular support to attack Pakistan.
 

SANITY

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War? Try getting that past the UNSC. There is no legal ground nor popular support to attack Pakistan.
You have presented a situation where if you refuse their aid, refuse to act against militants, keep shooting their drones and shelter those rogue factions to operate. Their will be more than enough legal ground for USA to do whatever they like. Chinese can't do a thing.

War isn't something Pakistan Army or establishment can even think of against the superpower. They will surrender without questioning. You guys speak of corruption that allows US to intervene in Pak while the truth is simple that you can't admit.

Infact, you have surrendered to their terms before as well. You aren't/weren't a US ally in spirit ever. USA calling Pakistan an ally is just an excuse for various complex reasons.
 

Kshatriya87

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If the situation deteriorates, at some point the govt will have to choose. We haven't had drone attacks for a while, people and the military is not just ready to have it again. Certainly not in Balochustan.
Maybe you didn't hear Obama's reply to pakistan about not taking permission before the strike. Obama clearly said we will not ask for permission before striking any terrorist hiding in any country.

There's no legal ground for sanctions other than stopping aid. We have already built the bomb and demonstrated the capability. There is no going back.
You maybe right there. But they will find a reason. You know the americans. One good reason might be e.g. harbouring terrorists in your land, and you can't deny that.

India is a pauwn, will serve US' interests against China. She does not border Afghanistan and can not replace Pakistan in the region. Even Obama understood this and offered the F-16.
India is pawn? Hilarious. In case you don't know the history, India has always remained neutral. India has denied alliance with US, with Russia etc. India walks on its own terms unlike pakistan. Kabhi US ka, kabhi china ka..

No it is not. Economic and military aid is less than a billion, most of it is conditional and gets blocked anyways.
Coalition Funds donot count as aid. It's remboursement we get for our services to US/Nato
You are thinking only about money. Include all the other aid including weapons, food, goats you get. That will sum it up.

They can and they should! Pakistan doesn't have an official agreement regarding the transit fees. US didn't pay a single penny till 2008 as official transit fees.
That's because they were using you. You didn't know that yet? Come on man. Anyways, the point is that they are very well capable to pay if you ask for it. That is not going to be a problem.

What about the impact on Afghan deprived economy and the social unrest. The blame will not be on us but them. The mercenaries will join local Taliban and start killing Americans.
How the hell is the blame on them? You are going to be kicking the refugees out. Not America. And as you know, Americans control the international media. A simple headline of "Pakistan forces millions of helpless refugees out" will do the trick and the onus will be on you.
 

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