Why the Pakistan Army-specific conditions in the Kerry-Lugar legislation?
The more direct language against military intervention in political and judicial processes has apparently been added by the US legislators on the insistence of the present government of President Zardari through his ambassador in Washington, Husain Haqqani, who has been critical of the army and ISI while staying in US since 2002.
One could find the details of all the Army-specific conditions, mentioned in the Kerry Lugar legislation, in Haqqani's book "Pakistan between Mosque and Military" which was published in 2006 before his appointment as ambassador. "The United States must use its aid as a lever to influence Pakistan's domestic policies." Washington should no longer condone the Pakistani military's support of Islamic militants, its use of its intelligence apparatus for controlling domestic politics, and its refusal to cede power to a constitutional democratic government," the book states in one of its chapters.
"Unlike governments in other Muslim countries like Egypt and Turkey, Pakistan's government - particularly its military - has encouraged political and radical Islam, which otherwise has a relatively narrow base of support," Haqqani wrote.
The book also stresses on the fact that the United States can contain the Islamic influence by asking Pakistan for certain reforms with regard to the Army and other security forces. "The United States can help contain the Islamists' influence by demanding reform of those aspects of Pakistan's governance that involve the military and security services. Until now, the United States has harshly berated corrupt or ineffective Pakistani politicians but has only mildly criticized the military's meddling."
He says: "Washington should
no longer condone the Pakistani military's support of Islamic militants, its
use of its intelligence apparatus for controlling domestic politics, and its
refusal to cede power to a constitutional democratic government."
At another place Haqqani says: "Because Washington has attached a few
conditions to US aid, the spending patterns of Pakistan's government have not
changed significantly. The country's military spending continues to
increase..."
Not surprisingly,
Husain Haqqani is in hot water as he remained the focus of speeches of members
from opposition benches in Pakistan's National Assembly and the Senate during
the debate on the US law. A number of opposition parliamentarians have demanded
his resignation. However, Foreign Policy magazine has reported that Haqqani
is contemplating going public with embarrassing Pakistani official documents
that he laid his hands on during his official capacity as ambassador if he is
fired from his job for inserting anti-military and
nuclear-related clauses in the Kerry-Lugar legislation.
Only 15 percent Pakistanis accept the US aid package
Tellingly, only 15 percent of Pakistanis support accepting the US aid package, according to a Gallup Pakistan survey released on Wednesday. Barely a quarter of the 2,500 Pakistanis polled believe the $7.5 billion US aid will improve the ordinary lives of the people.
According to Senator Tariq Aziz, given rapid inflation in Pakistan and the way huge chunks of foreign aid actually pass back to the United States through contractor salaries, the real purchasing power of the aid will diminish to roughly $200 million a year. Tellingly, under Section 101(2) of the legislation, up to $10 million will be spent every year to meet administrative expenses of civilian departments and agencies of the United States Government in connection with the provision of the assistance. At the same time $5 million will be provided to the Chief of US Mission in Pakistan to be spent on its discretion. $150 million has to be spent on training and equipping of the Pakistani police.
There is now a general popular impression in Pakistan that the ultimate U.S goals is to destroy Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons and to exert complete control over the military institutions of Pakistan. The United States remains antagonistic towards the Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies of Pakistan, while spreading disinformation regarding the Nuclear Assets of Pakistan. It is also widely believed that the United States supports and funds separatist movements in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan. The Kerry-Lugar legislation reinforces these apprehensions.
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