Congress considering $701 million grant passage for Pakistan

The US Congress is to consider passage of proposed FY-05 development allocations for Pakistan amounting to 701 million dollars, being the first year of the three billion multi-year assistance programme announced at the Camp David meeting between President George W Bush and President Pervez Musharraf last year.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi continued his contacts with key US legislators on Monday meeting Congressman Mark Stephen Kirk (R-Illinois) and Congressman Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania).
Congressman Kirk is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and serves on three of its subcommittees: Foreign Operations, Commerce/Justice/State and Legislative Branch.
Finding special interest of the Congressman in the government's action in South Waziristan against suspects, Qazi briefed him on the details of the operation, pointing out that there was no wavering in Pakistan's commitment, whatsoever. "The approach adopted by Pakistan was a combination of political and military operation," he said.
Congressman Mark Stephen Kirk was in Pakistan a few months back, visiting the tribal areas.
This was the Ambassador's second meeting with the Congressman in recent weeks, who praised Pakistan's determination to render effective fight against terrorism. He had wanted to maintain the rewards program of the US government so as to increase from case to case basis, providing the administration flexibility in its utilisation.
The bill has been considered by the House, while it has not as yet been taken up by the Senate.
In his meeting with Joe Pitts, the Pakistan Ambassador briefed him on government's policy on non-proliferation and co-operation in the ongoing war on terrorism, and pursuing of the policy of enlightened moderation.
Rep Pitts has been supportive of Pakistan in the US Congress. He also organised conference on Kashmir 'Beyond Blame Game' last year, whose report was issued last month.
He has since submitted the report to the US Congress for its perusal.
He has visited Pakistan recently. He also attended the Congressional hearing on Kashmir convened and chaired by Congressman Dan Burton, in which, Congressman Pitts said while international observers were welcome in Azad Kashmir, they were not allowed to see the other side of Kashmir by India, which lends strength to doubts of all sorts.
He highly praised Pakistan's co-operation with the US in the war against terrorism.
He recalled having met Kashmiris who have taken refuge in Azad Kashmir, and the steps he has initiated for welfare of the affectees.