Pakistan Defends Us Aid Package

The Pakistani government is defending the $7.5 billion U.S. aidpackage, saying Washington has addressed Islamabad's concerns over someof the controversial clauses. Late Thursday, U.S. President BarackObama signed the bill into law.

The U.S. Congress earlier thismonth unanimously approved the $7.5 billion aid package to helpPakistan improve health, education and security in the wake of risingmilitancy in the country.

But the legislation has come under strong criticism from opposition parties and the country's powerful military.

The opponents say some of the clauses undermine Pakistan's sovereignty.

Lastweek in a high-level meeting of its leadership, the Pakistani militaryobjected to clauses that implied they supported militant groups.

Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi, 12 Oct 2009Therelentless criticism forced the government to send Foreign MinisterShah Mehmood Qureshi to Washington this week to convey the concerns tothe sponsors of the multi-billion-dollar aid package.

Shortly after returning to Islamabad, Qureshi informed the Parliament Friday about his discussions with the U.S. lawmakers.

"Iminced no words," he said. "I highlighted each and every concern thatwas raised. Mr. Speaker, when I said what I had to say as a custodianof this Parliament as a person representing the sentiment of the peopleof Pakistan, and he replied to me, 'Foreign Minister, we hear you loudand clear.' Loud and clear was what Senator Kerry and the othersenators told me."

U.S. lawmakers said the language of the aidpackage could not be changed. But U.S. Senator John Kerry andRepresentative Howard Berman on Wednesday gave Qureshi a documentstating that the package does not impose any conditions on Pakistan orinfringe on its sovereignty.

The United States considersPakistan a vital ally in the global fight against terrorism. U.S.officials maintain the aid package is meant to strengthen the bilateralrelations and help Pakistan fight its growing insurgency led by Talibanmilitants.

The militants are using their bases in Pakistan'sremote tribal regions bordering Afghanistan for launching attacksagainst government and security targets across the country.

The latest attack occurred Friday as Parliament was in session for the aid package debate.

Policein the northwestern city of Peshawar say a suicide car bomber rammedinto a building where suspects are held and interrogated. At least adozen people have been killed.

The violence also comes a dayafter a series of high-profile suicide bombings and militant assaultson opposite sides of the country killed at least 39 people.

U.S.Senator John Kerry, one of the authors of the aid package, is expectedto arrive in Pakistan early next week to reassure Pakistani leadersthat the United States does not intend to undermine their country'ssovereignty.