'Indian lobby not behind contentious Pak aid bill'

While Pakistani political parties have been making a hue and cry over some of the objectionable clauses of the Kerry-Lugar bill saying India may be behind the stern conditions which impinge upon its sovereignty, the head of a top US think tank has rejected reports regarding the role of an Indian lobby in drafting the bill.

"I don't believe Indian lobby has any influence on the bill," said Robert Hathaway, Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre. Speaking during a dialogue arranged by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Hathaway said media reports regarding New Delhi's participation in the formulation of the legislation were 'false'.

Commenting on the Kashmir issue, he admitted that the US has been pressing both India and Pakistan to resolve the conflict. Hathaway said Washington would continue to play its role in the future on request. Referring to the Kerry-Lugar bill conditionalities, he said the US Congress wants the aid money to be spent wisely and in line with its objectives.

Hathaway said the bill does not intend to interfere in Pakistan's military promotions or force it to compromise over its sovereignty. "I see its criticism wildly off the mark, as its prime goal is a transactional relationship based only on broad based and long term partnership and cooperation between both countries," The Daily Times quoted Hathaway, as saying.