Republicans move bill to tighten control of Pak assistance

WASHINGTON: US Republicans moved Wednesday to cut aid to several of Israel's neighbors and to tighten control of assistance to Pakistan, vowing to get tough on militants and tame US spending.

The Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee pushed a range of issues in a spending bill for the fiscal year starting in October, including cutting US contributions to the United Nations and restricting funding for abortion.

"Our goal is to promote democratic governments in these countries and ensure that US taxpayers are not subsidizing groups that seek to undermine US policies, interests and allies," said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Republican chairwoman of the House committee.

The bill would impose tighter controls on assistance to Pakistan in light of the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden and persistent questions about the country's military and intelligence.

The Obama administration recently suspended about one-third of its $2.7 billion annual defense aid to Pakistan. But it has assured Pakistan it is committed to a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian package approved in 2009 that aims to build schools, infrastructure and democratic institutions.

The Republican bill would also make the civilian aid contingent on measurable progress by Pakistan in fighting militants.

"The language in this bill puts that government on notice that it is no longer business as usual and that they will be held to account if they continue to refuse to cooperate," Ros-Lehtinen said.

Representative Howard Berman, the top Democrat on the committee and a main author of the 2009 bill, said he agreed on the need to "get tough with Pakistan" but disagreed on restrictions over civilian aid.

"The key to long-term stability in Pakistan, and the only way we'll ever get Pakistan to change its behavior, is by strengthening its civilian institutions -- not weakening them as this bill will do," Berman said.

But to come into force, Republican lawmakers will need to reach a compromise with the Senate where President Barack Obama's Democratic Party retains control and is mostly supportive of the administration's international engagements. (AFP)