The Hindu : Front Page : All assistance to Pakistan under review, says U.S.

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Tuesday, Nov 06, 2007
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All assistance to Pakistan under review, says U.S.

“But nothing would be done to undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts”

RAMALLAH: President George W. Bush’s top national security aides say U.S. financial backing for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts would go on uninterrupted despite the administration’s unhappiness with President Pervez Musharraf’s declaration of a state of Emergency.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, discussing the crisis on Monday here in West Bank, called upon the General again to sever his affiliation with the Army and restore civilian rule. “I want to be very clear. We believe that the best path for Pakistan is to quickly return to a constitutional path and then to hold elections,” she said. The Pentagon said it was postponing a meeting scheduled for this week between senior U.S. and Pakistani defence officials.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates, visiting China, said the U.S. may take other steps but both he and Ms. Rice suggested the administration does not want to disrupt its partnership with Pakistan in fighting Al-Qaeda and other militants.

“We are reviewing all of our assistance programmes, although we are mindful not to do anything that would undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts,” Mr. Gates said.

A day earlier, Ms. Rice noted that a significant portion of U.S. aid “is directly related to the counter-terrorism mission” and said that while the aid programme to Islamabad must be reviewed in the wake of Gen. Musharraf’s move, “I would be very surprised if anyone wants the President to ignore of set aside our concerns about terrorism.”

She added: “The more quickly and the more urgently that the Pakistani leadership and President Musharraf act on their stated desire to get back to a constitutional path, it will be for the better of everyone.”

Mr. Bush has not spoken publicly about events in Pakistan, and waved off questions shouted to him by reporters as he returned to the White House on Sunday. But a White House spokeswoman on Monday sharply criticised Gen. Musharraf, urging him to call elections in January and to quit his military post.

— Photos: AFP

SHOWDOWN ON STREETS: A woman lawyer takes it out on the security forces, even as another lawyer faces the wrath of policemen in Lahore on Monday. Anti-Emergency protests have erupted outside courtrooms in a number of cities across Pakistan.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino said: “We cannot support a path that does not put them back on the road to democracy.” She also called for “free and fair” parliamentary elections in January and for Gen. Musharraf to “take off his uniform” as military chief.

Ms. Perino said the U.S. was “deeply disturbed” by the crisis, called for “a quick return” to democracy in Pakistan, and confirmed that U.S. aid to Pakistan was under review.

The U.S. has provided about $11 billion to Pakistan since 2001.

Ms. Rice on Sunday staunchly denied that the U.S. has invested so heavily in Gen. Musharraf that its options are now limited. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joseph Biden asserted just that, saying the administration “has a Musharraf policy, not a Pakistani policy.”

While Ms. Rice’s announcement put in question some of the billions in U.S. assistance to a close terrorism-fighting ally, a Republican lawmaker urged Mr. Bush to speak out “in more specific terms’ and suggested that Pakistan’s shift from democratic, civilian rule could jeopardise U.S. military support.

Other reactions

The Dutch Government said on Monday it was freezing development aid to Pakistan, becoming the first country to do so.

Britain also said it was reviewing its aid package to Pakistan.

Germany reacted with alarm to the Emergency rule imposed in Pakistan, urging Gen. Musharraf to stick to plans to hold elections in January.

In London, a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “We would like to see confirmation that elections will be held on schedule in January.” — AP

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