US waives certification requirements on Pakistan assistance
07 October, 2012
WASHINGTON: The United States has removed restrictions on this year's assistance for Pakistan, saying flow of economic and security aid to the country is in the US national security interest. The removal of aid certifications comes at an important time in US policy towards the region as it moves towards 2014 deadline of end to combat missions in Afghanistan and at the same time works to improve ties with Pakistan after a series of incidents undermined the key relationship in 2011. In July, bilateral ties, considered critical to the outcome of the Afghan war, started improving when Pakistan reopened its land routes and border crossing for NATO supplies in the wake of Washington's apology over November 2011 Salala attacks that had killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. According to Congressional Research Service (CRS), US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally notified Congress on September 13 that the US administration would continue the American aid flow by waiving certifications required contained in the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 and in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012. The CRS report said that in mid-August 2012, the State Department notified Congress of its intention to cite US national security provisions in waiving two certification requirements that placed conditions on US assistance to Pakistan. End.
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