Wrong message to Pakistan
In an unfortunate reversal, the Senate voted on Thursday to lift some of the military sanctions that were imposed on Pakistan five years ago. Pakistan has made no concessions to American requests that it cap its secret nuclear weapons program, and until it does so, and allows verification, it should not be the beneficiary of American military aid or be allowed to buy American military hardware.
South Asia has long been considered one of the most dangerous regions in the world for nuclear proliferation. India has tested a nuclear bomb and Pakistan wants to match its capability. The Clinton administration has concluded that Pakistan's secular, relatively democratic government should be supported. That is fair enough. But the way to do so is not with the military assistance program advanced by the White House and approved by the Senate. It would allow delivery of US$368 million in military equipment to the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Relations between Washington and Islamabad have been tense since 1990 after Pakistan violated its promises and began stockpiling nuclear materials and the United States refused to deliver 28 F-16A fighter planes that Pakistan paid for in 1988. That decision was part of a ban on military assistance to Pakistan imposed to discourage its development of nuclear weapons. The Senate would now allow reimbursement to Pakistan for the planes, which is a reasonable compromise. But the loosening of sanctions should have stopped there.
To resume military aid to a country that is secretly developing nuclear weapons and defying American non-proliferation policy makes no sense. American intelligence agencies have concluded that Pakistan possesses M-11 missiles acquired from China that can carry nuclear warheads.
The Clinton administration could have improved relations with Pakistan by simply removing the barriers to economic aid. A poor country, Pakistan already directs too many of its resources towards the military, at the expense of its citizens.
The Senate measure was passed as part the foreign aid bill. No similar provision exists in the House's version. The House should not accept the Senate measure when it comes time to reconcile the bills. The United States should not be contributing to an arms race on the subcontinent.
-- The New York Times