US cuts down aid to Pak for poor human rights record

Washington, June 10 (UNI) The United States' foreign aid to Pakistan has been reduced from the current fiscal year by 250 million dollars to 300 million dollars as Islamabad has failed to do enough to improve democracy and human rights.

According to the appropriations bill that was passed yesterday by the House of Representatives by a 373-34 vote, the foreign military financing (FMF) funds for Pakistan for 2007 were also dropped to 200 million dollars, with a decrease of 100 million dollars from the current fiscal.

The bill specifically cited the ''increasing lack of respect for human rights, especially women's rights, and the lack of progress for improving democratic governance and the rule of law,'' as chief reasons for reducing Pakistan's funds.

Welcoming the House action in reducing funds for Pakistan, Chief Deputy Whip of the Democratic Party, Joseph Crowley, a member of the House International Relations Committee, applauded the decision to reduce the FMF and economic support funds (ESF) for Pakistan by 350 million dollars due to its poor human rights record in the Foreign Operations appropriations bill for FY 2007.

In a statement yesterday, he said, ''From the full pardon that President Musharraf granted Abdul Qadeer Khan, who admitted to spreading nuclear weapons technology to Iran and North Korea, to frequent reports of human rights abuses, Pakistan cannot expect full support from the United States without providing answers to some serious questions.'' New York Congressman Crowley, who represents the second largest South Asian community in the United States, based in Jackson Heights, Queens, said, ''By reducing this aid to Pakistan, we are sending a message that democracy must eventually be restored and human rights must be upheld. Even with our allies, the United States firmly is committed to seeing that all people are treated with the respect and dignity of the rule of law.'' UNI XC MSJ KP0856