WASHINGTON: The Solarz subcommittee has warmed Pakistan that aid has to be cut off to Pakistan under the law if it supports militants in Kashmir.
This is apart from the aid cutoff mandated by the Pressler amendment as well as under the antinarcotics law if the U.S. is not satisfied with its cooperation on that score.
“The potential for conflict between India and Pakistan still remains most particularly with respect to Kashmir” says the subcommittees.
“Kashmir remains an extremely worrisome problem and a potential flashpoint for war between India and Pakistan The subcommittee urges both countries to exercise restraint so as to avoid setting in motion a chain of events that could lead to a conflict neither side desires Subcommittee members are particularly disturbed by reports alleging active Pakistani assistance to Kashmiri militants.”
The U.S. law requires the suspension of American assistance to any country found supporting movements that engage in assassination kidnapping or other militant activities. “It would be extremely desirable for the Pakistani government to take appropriate steps to assure the government of India that Islamabad is not providing military or material support to the militants “the subcommittee says.
The subcommittee deals extensively with the situation in the subcontinent particularly Pakistan in its report to the full committee.
The relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. has undergone a profound transformation over the past 12 months A year ago Pakistan was one of America’s largest and recipients (621 million dollars sought two years ago against 237.815 million in fiscal 1991 and 259.471 for fiscal 1992) Less than two years ago the Pakistani prime minister was accorded the honor of being invited to address a joint session of Congress.
Today U.S. foreign aid to Pakistan has been suspended because the president has been unable to issue a Pressler Amendment certification regarding Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
The subcommittee recommends that the administration request for fiscal 1992 be authorized only if Pakistan has obtained a Pressler amendment certification by September 30 the last day of fiscal 1991. If Pakistan has not received this certification by then the subcommittee recommends that this money be transferred to other accounts. If Pakistan receives the certification after the said date the subcommittee will be prepared to authorize aid to Pakistan either through normal reprogramming arrangements Or pursuant to a supplemental request from the administration.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 17, 1991
