Panel denies $800m military aid to Pakistan

Washington A US House panel on Wednesday moved to cut the foreign aid budget by some 9 per cent, targeting economic aid and contributions to the United Nations and the World Bank.

Despite the cuts, the legislation won bipartisan backing from the Appropriations foreign aid panel, though it's sure to draw a White House veto threat because it's in line with a broader GOP spending plan that breaks faith with last summer's budget and debt pact with President Barack Obama.

Fund denied

The panel maintains aid to Israel and Egypt at the administration's requests but denies $800 million (Dh2.9 billion) that was requested for a special fund for training and equipping Pakistan's military in counterinsurgency tactics. The move appears to reflect wariness on the part of lawmakers toward the government of Pakistan, which failed to find Osama Bin Laden for years until the US military killed him a year ago.

Rep Jesse Jackson Jr, accused Pakistan of "harbouring a fugitive" and likened the US-Pakistan relationship to a "bad marriage". Given the animosity toward Pakistan, the $800 million request for counterinsurgency efforts was an easy target, though the measure would permit transfers from other accounts to make up for some or all of the shortfall.

"It is a difficult relationship," said Rep. Kay Granger, the foreign aid measure's lead author.