http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/12-two-us-senators-opposes-move-for-pakistan-aid--bi-14
Two US senators oppose move for Pakistan aid
I would like to know how the money would be circulated and will not end in bank accounts in Switzerland: Senator Corker.—AP
By Our Correspondent , WASHINGTON: 13 May, 2009
The Obama administration faced strong opposition from two Senators — a Democrat and a Republican — to rush $497 million of emergency aid to Pakistan.
One of them, Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, said he was concerned that the Obama administration was trying to rush emergency aid without proper congressional oversight to a country where some of the leaders have been called 'Mr 10 per cent' because of their alleged corruption. 'It will be a monumental mistake' if the administration sent aid to Pakistan without proper congressional oversight, he said. 'I would like to know how the money would be circulated in Pakistan,' said Senator Corker, 'and will not end in bank accounts in Switzerland'.
Senator Bob Mendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, said he had voted for bills supporting Pakistan on several occasions in the past but he was not going to vote for this move. He urged US special envoy Richard Holbrooke to come to his chamber and convince him why he should vote for giving aid to Pakistan without proper oversight. The two senators were speaking at a special hearing of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the current situation in Pakistan.
Ambassador Holbrooke, who testified before the committee, said he was willing to come to the offices of these lawmakers to persuade them to support the administration's point of view. He also promised to bring along Gen David Petraeus, who is in charge for US military operations in the Pak-Afghan region as the head of the Central Command. 'I am troubled by what you have said,' Mr Holbrooke said. But Senator Menendez insisted on knowing what the US strategy was for dealing with the situation in Pakistan and for ensuring that the money will be used for the purpose it's given for.
'Unless, I really hear what the strategy is, and I have not heard that so far, you may not have my support on this,' he said.
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