WASHINGTON: A proposal by a Republican lawmaker in Congress to cut off aid to Pakistan, citing policies contrary to US interests, was soundly rejected in the House of Representatives. Pakistani Ambassador to US Masood Khan welcomed the House of Representatives decision.
Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles had introduced an amendment to the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act for 2024, aiming to halt assistance to Pakistan. However, the proposal failed to gain support in the 435-member House, where Republicans hold a majority.
The final vote saw 298 members, both Democrats and Republicans, voting against Congressman Ogles’s amendment, while 132 voted in favour, marking a resounding rejection of the anti-Pakistan move.
Before the vote, there was a heated debate in which Democratic Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee and Barbara Lee strongly opposed Congressman Ogles’s proposal. They advocated for maintaining U.S. assistance to Pakistan.
Ms. Jackson criticized the move as misguided and emphasized the enduring multifaceted relationship between the two countries, rooted in cooperation in various areas such as defense, counterterrorism, trade, investment, agriculture, energy, climate, health, and education. She also highlighted the sacrifices made by Pakistani soldiers during the Afghan war and the shared democratic values that underpin the bilateral relationship.
US Congress says Pakistan holds strategic significance
Congresswoman Barbara Lee stressed the importance of regional stability, addressing extremism, and promoting peace and security. She pointed out that US aid to Pakistan not only holds strategic significance but also reflects humanitarian concern, particularly in response to climate-induced floods in Pakistan.
In the fiscal year 2024, $135 million had been allocated for Pakistan, covering economic support, counter-narcotics efforts, military education and training, counterterrorism activities, and a health program.
Congressman Ogles, in promoting his proposal, criticized former Prime Minister Imran Khan for his statements regarding the Taliban’s victory in August 2021 and made baseless accusations against Pakistan dating back to before 2021.
Following the defeat of Ogles’s proposal, Ambassador Masood Khan expressed gratitude to all US lawmakers who voted against the amendment and reiterated the positive trajectory of Islamabad-Washington relations.
