Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US Congress triples aid to Pakistan
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
US Congress triples aid to Pakistan
AFP - Thursday, October 1
Send
IM Story
Print
US Congress triples aid to Pakistan
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The US Congress voted to triple aid to Pakistan in a five-year commitment aimed at bringing development to the frontline nation and reducing the allure of Islamic extremism.
President Barack Obama has enthusiastically supported the 7.5-billion-dollar package, calling it a long-term investment to fight Al-Qaeda extremists by building schools, empowering women and strengthening the civilian government.
"This legislation helps give Pakistan the tools, support and capability it needs to defeat Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups that threaten our national security," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the vote.
The House of Representatives gave the final go-ahead despite the misgivings of some lawmakers concerned either that Pakistan was not doing enough to fight extremists or that the heavily indebted United States cannot afford the package. Facts: Aid package
Representative Howard Berman, an author of the legislation, regretted that the final version had lighter conditions on the aid but said it was most crucial to forge a "true strategic partnership" with Pakistan and its people.
"We can't allow Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group that threatens our national interest to operate with impunity in the tribal regions or any other part of Pakistan," said Berman, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"Nor can we permit the Pakistani state and its nuclear arsenal to be taken over by the Taliban."
Obama has made the fight against Al-Qaeda, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and the Taliban a top foreign policy priority of his young presidency.
In a shift of tactics, Obama has viewed Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the same conflict, worried about fighters' movement across the porous frontier. Obama is also considering sending more troops into Afghanistan.
The House approved the Pakistan aid bill by a voice vote after its unanimous approval last week in the Senate.
Senators had toned down some of the stricter conditions in the bill after both Pakistani and Obama administration officials warned of the risks of micro-managing the assistance.
The bill still insists that Pakistan take action against extremist groups on its soil and not assist them in fighting neighboring countries, namely India.
But instead of threatening cutoffs of aid, it allows the president to waive the review if he determines that sending the aid suits US interests.
Representative Gary Ackerman, one of India's strongest supporters in Congress, worried that Pakistan's government still saw New Delhi as the prime enemy and shared sympathies with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The aid package "is not a blueprint for partnership; it is a recipe for disappointment followed by disillusion," said Ackerman, a member of Obama's Democratic Party.
"Pakistan's interests and ours are simply not very closely aligned."
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a conservative Republican, charged that Pakistan was still supporting Islamic extremists and fretted that China would finance more of the ballooning US debt.
"American soldiers still die everyday because our diplomats won't face reality. They keep telling us that Pakistan is just coming around," he said. "It's clear they (Pakistan) are playing us like a fiddle."
Republican Ron Paul said that the United States was bankrupting itself by excessive military involvement.
"The way we treat our fellow countries around the world is we tell them what to do and if they do it, we give them money, if they don't, then we bomb them," Paul said.
In Pakistan, he said, "we're doing both."
The vote came as US military carried out three military strikes in the previous 24 hours against Taliban strongholds in northwest Pakistan.
Obama has hoped to soften the US image in Pakistan by expanding aid and trade.
But Congress has yet to finalize a plan that would establish special zones in Pakistan and Afghanistan for duty-free goods.
"We need to move forward on trade because we do know that that provides for a more sustainable foundation for long-term economic growth in Pakistan," said Congressman Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who sponsored the measure.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
China to sign Taiwan pact after Kadeer ban: report AFP - Thursday, October 1
Taiwan seeks extradition of 75 fugitives from US AFP - Thursday, October 1
Second quake hits Indonesia's Sumatra - USGS Reuters - Thursday, October 1
Koreans, split by war, distraught after reunions Reuters - Thursday, October 1
Japan's PM to visit SKorea: officials AFP - Thursday, October 1
News Search
Top Stories
Embattled Bank of America CEO Lewis to retire
US superrich lose 300 bln dlrs in a year: Forbes
GDP revision shows recession winding down
UN demands end of sexual violence as tactic of war
German unemployment falls
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
France Telecom boss under fire over staff suicides
Fresh violence in Guinea after stadium bloodbath
Film world backs Polanski as he fights Swiss arrest
Xerox to buy ACS for $6.4 bln
UN demands end of sexual violence as tactic of war
More Most Viewed »
Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO
Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists
Remains of Jesus-era synagogue found in Israel
Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 1 October 2009 Probe says Georgia started war amid Russian provocation
UN chief dismisses deputy head of Afghan mission
Terminate prostitute site, British minister tells Arnie
US revision shows recession winding down
UN fires top US official at UN in Afghanistan
Google inviting testers to ride its Wave
Internet, dissidents under watch for China's National Day
China marks 60 years with spectacle of power
| International
|
Israel to free prisoners for video of held soldier
Singapore sets up body to prevent cyber-attacks
Israel and Hamas in mutual gestures on prisoners
Georgia started war with Russia: EU-backed report
| International
|
US agrees to greater international oversight of Web body
UN chief fires deputy head of Afghan mission
Distracted driving blamed for 5,800 U.S. deaths
Peru's Fujimori gets 6 years prison for bribes
| International
|
TerreStar, AT&T to launch satellite smartphone
Red Cross warns of complacency in still-bloody Iraq
Microsoft wins overturn of $388 million patent award
Guinea junta calls for national unity government
| International
|
Iran says talks are "test" as U.S. weighs sanctions
US: Iraq budget shortfall poses security challenge
German police break up Internet child porn ring
Village Green, Microsoft partner on carbon tool
More than 1,000 feared dead in major Indonesian quake: officials
Beijing shuts down for National Day gala
Britain asks Schwarzenegger to close prostitute web site
| Technology
|
Scandal-hit UN program resumes aid in NKorea
Diplomat says US open to dialogue with NKorea
Senators reject photo ID for health care benefits
5-year-old found unhurt after Calif. shootings
NYPD: Pedestrian collision ends in fatal stabbing
Sharapova, Jankovic reach Pan Pacific Open quarters
Missile attack on militants kills 6 in NW Pakistan
Conservationists sue EPA over prairie dog poison
Vick to repay $416,000 to pension plan
Free-to-air services help mobile TV market: chip firm
| Technology
|
Maine neighbors honor Bush with Navy anchor
UN wants probe into Sri Lanka camp shooting
Indonesian land-clearing fires cause choking haze
Hillary Clinton likes being president for a day
NRC finds problems in NJ nuke plant emergency
Feds: rudder loss led Alaska fishing boat to sink
At least 113 dead in Pacific tsunami: officials
Religion News in Brief
Japan clothes giant Uniqlo takes on world's fashion capital
Matt LeBlanc returning to series TV on Showtime
Indonesia dresses up after batik 'victory' over Malaysia
After outcry, France softens tone on Roman Polanski case
Beauty bug bites Beirut's littlest
Bharti, MTN abandon merger talks
ENI wins Pakistan gas block, in Caspian talks
Japan ready to support ailing JAL: minister
'Big Brother' changed TV, Dutch creator says 10 years on
China dissidents say unhappy birthday
Danone exits Wahaha joint venture in China
Taiwan to show critical Tibet, Xinjiang films on China's National Day
Japan PM says government will back JAL
China fund buys $949M stake in Kazakh oil producer
Deadly epidemic of distracted driving sweeping US: official
China, Japan honoured by UNESCO heritage board
Emirati sheikh emerges as top Lacroix suitor
After outcry, France changes tone on Roman Polanski case
| Entertainment
|
Japan needs major reforms for growth, OECD says
Hugh Craig, Daniel Jackman sell out on Broadway
| Entertainment
|
Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee firms
China orders crackdown on industrial overcapacity
More than 1,000 feared dead in major Indonesian quake: officials
Indonesia quake kills 75, thousands trapped
Michelle Moran mixes love of history with writing
| Entertainment
|
Powerful earthquake rocks western Indonesia
Author Chinua Achebe puts pen to page after 20 years
| Entertainment
|
Obama holds 'candid' talks on Afghan war
Germany's Oktoberfest shrugs off terror threats
US-TECH Summary
China marks 60 years with spectacle of power
| International
|
Embattled Bank of America CEO Lewis to retire
US superrich lose 300 bln dlrs in a year: Forbes
Indonesia quake death toll may be thousands
| International
|
U.S. and Iran to face off at six-power nuclear talks
| International
|
Comcast denies it has deal to buy NBC Universal
Iran pressed to clear up nuclear aims at talks
GDP revision shows recession winding down
NBA prohibits use of Twitter, Facebook during games
Asia typhoon toll 350, floods in Vietnam, Cambodia
| International
|
UN demands end of sexual violence as tactic of war
U.S., Iran to face off at six-power nuclear talks
Obama holds 'candid' Afghanistan talks with top aides
Koreans, split by war, distraught after reunions
| International
|
Nortel to sell GSM business
US: Iraq budget shortfall poses security challenge
Sudan parties threaten to boycott elections
Google gadget lets websites go multilingual
'Baghdad ER' turns off the lights
Honduras' Micheletti backs off Brazil deadline
| International
|
Tsunamis turn South Pacific paradise to deadly hell
| International
|
NY Times planning local editions for other US cities
Most Americans dislike behavioral advertising: survey
Hamas, Israel deal: 20 prisoners for soldier video
Somali rebel groups fight in southern port
| International
|
Verizon discontinues Internet Hub phone
Facebook warns of phony friends asking for cash
Sony's PSP go delivers tighter handheld gaming
Xmas orders bring labor shortages in China export hubs
| International
|
New media explosion upends TV ratings system
| Technology
|
Indonesia quake death toll may be thousands
Verizon discontinues Internet Hub phone
| Technology
|
Second quake hits Indonesia's Sumatra
Comcast denies it has deal to buy NBC Universal
| Technology
|
Koreans, split by war, distraught after reunions
Japan's PM to visit SKorea: officials
Nortel to sell GSM business
| Technology
|
Obama hears opinions on new Afghan strategy
Philippine floods victims brace for another typhoon
US hopeful from first talks with Myanmar
China celebrates National Day extravaganza
Vigils planned for captive hikers in Iran
Robbery suspect escapes from NYC courthouse
US Congress triples aid to Pakistan
Settlement blocks Yosemite commercial development
SC gov asks court to keep ongoing probe secret
Marine spared prison time for killing detainee
Developments around the world in Pacific tsumani
Empire State Building lit for China, drawing ire
W.Va. meet led to Klamath dam removal, salmon aid
Google working on smart plug-in hybrid charging
| Technology
|
U.S. judge refuses to release interrogation documents
Seoul shares extend loss as exporters hit by won
S.Korea mortgage loans decline slightly in Sept
S.Korea KOSPI extends losses as exporters hit
South Korea's Sept exports lift won, rate outlook
Bangladesh set for record IPO
S.Korea Oct crude runs to rise from Sept -survey
S.Korea Q3 FDI plans hit three-quarter high
Japan's business confidence grows: BoJ
Powerful Indonesia quake traps thousands in ruins
French support softens for Polanski, Hollywood divided
S.Korea ready take action in FX market
Strong Indonesia quake kills 200, traps thousands
S.Korea treasury bonds up on smaller issuance plan
Indonesia quake death toll at 100-200
New media explosion upends TV ratings system
| Entertainment
|
Scores killed as quake hits Indonesia: official
Argentina, Uruguay bury hatchet to snatch tango honor
A-list young actors have thirst for Wettest County
| Entertainment
|
CORRECTION: Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig sell out on Broadway
Pay or be blamed for son's death, Travolta told
| Entertainment
|
Dozens killed in Indonesia quake: health ministry
Handguns, terrorism law on US Supreme Court docket
French support softens for Polanski, Hollywood divided
| Entertainment
|
'General Hospital' star checking into another soap
Mitzi Gaynor returns to isle of "South Pacific"
LeBlanc to play LeBlanc in TV spoof Episodes
| Entertainment
|
Gays, lesbians getting better showcase on U.S. TV
Ramones biopic draws studio interest
| Entertainment
|
US superrich lose 300 bln dlrs in a year: Forbes
Gays, lesbians getting better showcase on U.S. TV
| Entertainment
|
Pearl Jam tops chart for first time in 13 years
Paul McCartney to release CD/DVD of NY shows
| Entertainment
|
Paul McCartney to release CD/DVD of NY shows
Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig sell out on Broadway
| Entertainment
|
Pulp Fiction screenwriter jailed for fatal crash
| Entertainment
|
Sony's PSP go delivers tighter handheld gaming
EU launches free satellite system to fine-tune GPS
Global recovery strengthening but risks high: IMF
World economic recovery 'has started': IMF chief
Iraqi PM ditches old Shi'ite allies for Jan polls
Ex-prosecutor says he lied about Polanski case: report
Iran, world powers begin talks on nuclear deadlock
Israel says Gaza war report threatens peace efforts
| International
|
Travolta testifies in extortion case
UN Afghan envoy says sacking 'terrible signal'
Provide details on Taliban, Pakistan tells U.S.
| International
|
Romanian leftists quit coalition government
| International
|
Suu Kyi lawyers hopeful for Myanmar appeal
Sabotage behind refugees' boat blast: Australian police
Virtual economies in videogames used as case studies
| Technology
|
Sect member asks judge to exclude allegations
Online education expanding, awaits innovation
| Technology
|
Search on after boat capsizes in India, dozens dead
Wildfire on California base 50 percent contained
Cisco bets on video again with $3 billion Tandberg buy
| Technology
|
NKorea diversifying threats against SKorea: president
Vegas judge binds ACORN, former employee for trial
EU launches free satellite system to fine-tune GPS
| Technology
|
New inquiry ordered into deadly Afghanistan battle
Noordin's wife leaves for Indonesia to claim body
Taiwan seeks extradition of 75 fugitives from US
Britain asks Schwarzenegger to close prostitute website
| Technology
|
China to sign Taiwan pact after Kadeer ban: report
Aid flows to tsunami-hit Samoas; death toll at 120
Rise of NBA star Lebron James charted in documentary
Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee flat
Black music awards honour Michael Jackson
Vehicle sales in Japan rise for second month
Ramones biopic draws studio interest
China to sign Taiwan pact after Kadeer ban: report
A-list young actors have thirst for "Wettest County"
New media upends TV ratings system
Seoul auctioneer seeks to sell more Hirsts to Asia
LeBlanc to play LeBlanc in TV spoof "Episodes"
S.Korea seen buying up to $2 bln to check won's rise
China govt PMI shows recovery on track: govt
Flavor Flav heads back to high school
IMF raises world growth forecast, remains cautious
French minister doubts U.S. fairness to Roman Polanski
| Entertainment
|
Pakistani c.bank buys 60.2 bln rupees of T-bills
Comic Artie Lange pleads guilty to DUI in NJ
Business confidence in Japan up for second quarter
Ex-INXS singer held in hospital after heart surgery
| Entertainment
|
Gays, lesbians getting better showcase on U.S. TV
| Entertainment
|
Cuban exiles changed tune on Havana concert: poll
| Entertainment
|
Online education expanding, awaits innovation
| Entertainment
|
Cars may one day mimic fish to avoid collisions
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights