Just two days after Pakistan released Central Intelligence Agency contractor Rayamond Allen Davis, arrested in a double murder case, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a certification to the Congress asserting that Islamabad is co-operating with the US in preventing and dismantling terror networks, congressional watchdog has said.
The Department of State transmitted the certification to Congress with a classified memorandum of justification to support it on March 29, a report released by the Government Accountability Office said.
This certification paved the way for the US to provide security-related assistance to Pakistan in fiscal year 2011 as mandated by the Enhanced partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009.
The Department of State had originally requested USD 296 million in fiscal year 2011 for Pakistan. Raymond Davis was arrested after gunning down two men in Lahore in January this year which led to a diplomatic row between the two nations.
He was later released after the payment of blood money on March 16 and the certification was signed on March 18. The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, popular as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, among other things, limits certain security-related assistance to Pakistan each fiscal year from 2011 through 2014.
In her certification, Clinton said Pakistan continues to cooperate with the US in efforts to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials, such as providing relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks.
She certified Islamabad is co-operating in preventing Al Qaeda, Taliban and associated terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from operating in its territory, including carrying out cross-border attacks into neighboring countries, closing terrorist camps in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, dismantling terrorist bases of operations in other parts of the country, including Quetta and Muridke, and taking action when provided with intelligence about high-level terrorist targets.
Before the United States can provide security-related assistance to Pakistan in each of those fiscal years, the Secretary of State must certify that Pakistan continues to cooperate with the US on dismantling nuclear networks, it demonstrated a sustained commitment to and made significant efforts toward combating terrorism in the preceding fiscal year, and the country's security forces are not subverting the political and judicial processes there.
The GAO report said since 2002, the US has provided Pakistan with increasing levels of security, democratic, economic and development assistance, as well as reimbursements. In fact, the US assistance increased 151 per cent, from $1.06 billion in fiscal year 2002 to $2.65 billion in fiscal year 2010.
In the same period, US reimbursements to Pakistan have increased 28 per cent, from $1.17 billion in fiscal year 2002 to $1.50 billion in fiscal year 2010.
The Act authorises $1.5 billion in democratic, economic, and development assistance to Pakistan each year for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
The US has provided assistance for a broad range of activities. For example, it has provided $4.78 billion through the Economic Support Fund, which is used for projects such as rehabilitating and constructing public schools and improving energy, agricultural and water infrastructure.
The US has also provided $2.16 billion in Foreign Military Financing, which helps develop the professionalism and capabilities of Pakistan's military.
Washington also provided Excess Defense Articles to Pakistan between 2002 and 2010; however, this assistance has been provided in the form of equipment rather than funds.
The GAO report said, according to discussions with State Department officials and its review of the law and State budget requests, the Enhanced Partnership Act could limit about USD 350 million in FMF (Foreign Military Financing) that State requested for Pakistan in fiscal year 2012.
That is approximately 12 per cent of the administrations fiscal year 2012 request of $3 billion for total foreign assistance to Pakistan.
This leaves about 88 per cent, or $2,615 million that is not limited. The FMF programme provides grants for Pakistan's acquisition of US defence articles, services and training, primarily for activities related to counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations.
In past, Pakistan had used these grants to refurbish or upgrade defense articles that the US had provided under the Excess Defense Articles programme, including Cobra helicopters, armored personnel carriers and the frigate USS McInerney.
Clinton certified that Pakistan during the preceding fiscal year has demonstrated a sustained commitment to and is making significant efforts towards combating terrorist groups consistent with the purposes of assistance described in section 201, including taking into account the extent to which the government of Pakistan has made progress on matters such as: ceasing support, including by any elements within the Pakistan military or its intelligence agency, to extremist and terrorist groups, particularly to any group that has conducted attacks against United States or coalition forces in Afghanistan, or against the territory or people of neighbouring countries.