US panel votes for tougher conditions for aid to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: A key US congressional panel has voted to impose tougher conditions on Pakistan to receive assistance and authorised the secretary of state to suspend aid if Islamabad fails to take effective actions against terrorist groups.

The house appropriations committee on Wednesday approved by voice vote the 2018 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which seeks certification from Rex Tillerson for disbursement of US aid to Pakistan, making it conditional for Islamabad to take action against terrorist groups.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

It provides $47 billion in regular discretionary and Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding — $10 billion lower than the amount earmarked for fiscal year 2017, when counting additional funds provided last year.

Within this amount, OCO funding totals $12 billion, which supports operations and assistance in areas of conflict.

Under the bill, the secretary of state is asked to certify that Pakistan is cooperating with the US in counter- terrorism efforts against the Haqqani network, the Quetta Shura Taliban, Lashkar-e-TaIba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, al-Qaeda, and others, including taking effective steps to prevent such terrorist groups from basing and operating in Pakistan and carrying out cross-border attacks into neighbouring countries. He is also required to certify that Pakistan is not supporting terrorist activities against the US.