With Obama signing the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, otherwise known as the ‘Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill,’ a five-year, $7.5 billion aid package to Pakistan is assured, along with a promise of more to come. ‘It includes language proposing a subsequent tranche of $7.5 billion of aid for 2015 to 2019. There is yet more money for Pakistan in the 2010 defense budget. The Kerry-Lugar-Berman aid comes on top of the more than $15 billion the United States has given Pakistan since 2001, of which more than $10 billion has been military aid.’

For that huge amount, huge efforts on the part of Pakistan shall be exacted by the outstanding aid donor. Among these are: continued cooperation in efforts to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials; making significant efforts towards combating terrorist groups such as ceasing support, including by any elements within the Pakistan military or its intelligence agency, to extremist and terrorist groups; and ensuring that its security forces are not materially and substantially subverting the political or judicial processes of Pakistan.

The tall order ‘attracted howls of outrage from Pakistan’s politicians and stern words from its military leaders.’

However, the United States made it clear to the country’s political authorities that it ‘would not impose any penalties on Pakistan if the certification conditions were violated, they emphasized that “this certification could be waived if the determination is made by the Secretary of State in the interests of national security that this was necessary to continue such assistance.”’

Fact is, ‘the United States has been giving economic and military aid to Pakistan for over 50 years. It started in 1954, as part of a U.S. effort to recruit Pakistan as a Cold War ally. Pakistan was located in a key region, close to both the Soviet Union and the Middle East. Pakistan’s leaders invited and welcomed this alliance. It brought them American political, economic, and military assistance, all of which they hoped to use in their contest with India.’

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Via Foreign Policy in Focus