Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hears Testimony from John Negroponte on the Way Forward in Pakistan

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee heard testimony from United States Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte on “U.S. Policy Options in Post-Election Pakistan.”

Chairman Joseph Biden (D-DE) and committee member John Kerry (D-MA) shared their experiences from their recent trip to Pakistan during the election and the mood was one of agreement on the general direction of support for Pakistani democracy, praise for the skill and devotion of our troops in both military and non-military capacities, and focus on the Afghanistan / Pakistan border as a key front in combating regional and global threats.

Biden recommended tripling non-military aid for education and infrastructure, stating that such assistance yields “enormous bang for the buck.” He urged more focus on Afghanistan, stating that resource diversion to Iraq has caused the U.S. to neglect its interests and obligations there.

Negroponte remarked that the February 18 election, in which President Pervez Musharraf’s party suffered striking defeat, showed higher turnout than prior elections despite an increased risk of violence. In light of the election results, he stated that the administration will support the Pakistani people and whatever government arises out of their democratic actions, while recognizing that Musharraf is still in office for the remainder of his term and the U.S. will continue to work with him.

Tension arose over the issue of reimbursement funds that the U.S. provides to Pakistan for its efforts against terrorism. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) cited a British article claiming that 70% of such funds had been misspent by Pakistan, and quoted Musharraf as saying that his troops are not searching for Osama bin Laden. Boxer also criticized the low priority Negroponte and the administration placed on an independent judiciary for Pakistan in light of considerable emphasis they place on that of Iraq.