Back in May, Sen. Kerry and Sen. Lugar introduced a bill to triple non-military aid to Pakistan. The bill passed the House and Senate in June (unanimously in the Senate). It's time for Congress to reconcile the bills and send to Obama to sign.
The importance of Kerry-Lugar is clear - Pakistan is a lynchpin for the region, but has been teetering for decades. The current government, now a year old, has taken important steps towards fighting religious extremism, normalizing relations with India, and democratizing the political process after years of dictatorial rule. But if progress is to continue, the US needs to do more than provide military assistance - we need to invest in building a prosperous and sustainable economic infrastructure in the region.
While recent research shows Taliban and al Qaeda militants are despised in Pakistan, the US, and the democratic West in general, continues to suffer a notoriously bad reputation as well. Additionally, Pakistanis, while certainly concerned with extremist violence, are also very concerned about economic issues in their country. Kerry-Lugar will show Pakistanis that the US is an honest partner that is invested in the long-term future of their country.
Earlier this week, Adm. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that Kerry-Lugar is important to the long-term success of a democratic Pakistan.
‘We think that is an important long-term relationship. They still ask the question, are you staying or going this time? Not unlike the question that gets asked in Afghanistan. Kerry-Lugar bill is very important, as far as I am concerned because it is not about $ 1.5 billion a year as much as it is a five-year commitment to Pakistan.’
Pakistan's President Zardari is on his way to New York to co-chair the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) summit on September 24 with US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Congress should pass, and President Obama should sign a reconciled bill in time to hold the signing ceremony while President Zardari is visiting next week to demonstrate the goodwill of the US and introduce a new starting point for a stronger partnership between our two nations.