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| India-Pakistan |
| No conditions on aid: Kerry |
| 2009-04-14 |
| Washington will not put any conditions on its aid to Islamabad, but will recommend tools to measure its effectiveness, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry said on Monday. Addressing a press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi after a series of important meetings with top Pakistani officials, Kerry promised that his country’s long-term ties with Pakistan would not be defined by response to extremism militancy, but by its focus on the welfare of Pakistani people. He said he would introduce the bill for $1.5 billion annual aid to Pakistan over the next 10 years in the Senate after he returns to the US. “The focus of the bill is to make it clear to the people of Pakistan that they are at the centre of our policy,” he said. “It means that we want to build schools, roads, health clinics and create jobs,” he said. “It is a clear signal that US values its relationship with Pakistan and seeks long-term relationships not with a single government but with the people.” Kerry said the collateral damage in the US drone attacks was unacceptable. He pledged to report Pakistani concerns to the relevant quarters in the US on his return. “I am confident that people will review it carefully,” he said, but also added that terrorism did not begin after the drone attacks. Kerry said he had an excellent meeting with ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha. “He and your government are making enormous efforts to guarantee absolute cooperation and accountability of intelligence efforts in this country,” he said. Qureshi said any differences between the two governments would be resolved through consultations. Earlier, John Kerry met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Zardari stressed the need to expedite the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in the Tribal Areas. Gilani said there was a need to work on the trust deficit between Washington and Islamabad. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #5 The esteemed Senator Traitor does not seem to understand that money is fungible - if we give Pakistain $1.5 billion/year to build schools, roads, etc. Pakistan can spend another $1.5 billion from its budget on whatever it wants - weapons, terrorism, etc. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-04-14 18:49 |
| #4 Let's see if Obama has any balls, because Kerry just kicked him in the crotch. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-04-14 16:56 |
| #3 Kerry said he had an excellent meeting with ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha. “He and your government are making enormous efforts to guarantee absolute cooperation and accountability of intelligence efforts in this country,” he said. Jawnny, there's "stupid" and "dangerous stupid". And you just moved up in class... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-04-14 13:59 |
| #2 Aaaaarrrrgh. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2009-04-14 12:54 |
| #1 Kerry, Stupidity Unlimited. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-04-14 12:10 |