In a recent development on Capitol Hill, Congressman Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, attempted to push through a proposal to prohibit assistance to Pakistan as part of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act for the year 2024. However, this move faced a resounding defeat in the House during a recorded vote, showcasing strong bipartisan opposition.
The final tally of the vote saw 298 members, both Democrats and Republicans, voting against the proposal, while 132 were in favor, marking a clear and overwhelming rejection of the proposed measure.
During the heated debate preceding the vote, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congresswoman Barbara Lee passionately argued in favor of maintaining assistance to Pakistan. Jackson Lee criticized the proposal as misguided, asserting that it did not reflect the values of the Pakistani government and its people. She emphasized the longstanding multifaceted relationship between the two countries, including cooperation in areas such as defense, counterterrorism, trade, investment, agriculture, energy, climate, health, and education. Jackson Lee also paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Pakistani soldiers during the intense phases of the Afghan war, highlighting the shared democratic values that underpin the bilateral relationship.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee stressed the importance of stability in the region, the need to address extremism, and the promotion of peace and security. She argued that aid and assistance to Pakistan were not only strategically significant but also a reflection of humanitarian concern, particularly in light of devastating floods in Pakistan.
For the fiscal year 2024, $135 million had been earmarked for Pakistan, with funds allocated for economic support, counter-narcotics efforts, military education and training, counterterrorism initiatives, and a health program.
Congressman Ogles used his statement to criticize former Prime Minister Imran Khan for welcoming the Taliban’s victory in August 2021 and making baseless accusations against Pakistan dating back to the period before 2021.
In response to the defeat of the proposal, Ambassador Masood Khan expressed satisfaction, calling it the right decision by the US Congress. He pointed out that this decision reflects the current phase of positive and productive engagement between Pakistan and the United States across multiple domains and encouraged both nations to build on this foundation to elevate their relationship to higher levels.
Leave a Comment