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Pakistan needs U.S. aid package now (photo essay)
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Doctor treats victim of suicide attack that killed 41 people in Peshewar (AP)
Pakistani civilians could use some relief in light of recent horrifying events, after experiencing four major terrorist attacks over the previous nine days, including a suicide bombing of a U.N. office in the capital, Islamabad, and a 22-hour siege of the army's headquarters - all part and parcel of the country's ongoing war with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) movement.
It is a war they are indirectly fighting on behalf of the United States, as they fight and die to ensure Pakistan is not overrun by extremists, is not transformed into a breeding ground for terrorism, and does not become a cozy place for al-Qaeda to plan its next round of attacks. Thus, the U.S. is doing the right thing and sending monies "earmarked" for helping the suffering civilians of Pakistan, despite the pettiness and audacity of military extremists within the Pakistani government who apparently tried to sabotage the relief bill.
The U.S. plans to give Paksitan an unconditional $7.5 billion non-military developmental aid package that Obama is supposed to sign later this week. However, there is resistance from the Pakistani military establishment because of what they perceive as insulting language within the bill that encroaches on Pakistan's sovereignty. Yet, it appears the opponents of the aid package are making much ado about nothing. They thought that in exchange for the money Pakistan would have to prove to the U.S. that they were fighting Islamic extremists, closing down training camps and preventing nuclear proliferation. John Kerry cleared this up today with an explanatory note attached to the bill that asserts there would be no interference with Pakistan's civilian and military operations. The requirements within the bill are meant to ensure U.S. compliance and place no conditions on the government of Pakistan. Hear that? No conditions fellas.
Perhaps something had been lost in the translation. But I doubt it. It's more than likely that Pakistan's hard-liners were flexing muscle, ever reminding the civilians that the army still has a say. It was a wake up call - a statement that one cannot simply brush aside the mighty Generals in a country that has been under military rule for nearly half of its 62-year history. The reality is, the only outcome the bombasitc spastics of the army brass has yielded is a delay of much needed aid to their own suffering people.
Now that the militant zealots within Pakistan's administration have been assuaged, Islamabad will soon be able to distribute aid. One wonders if these military chieftains are a bit out of touch. Do they even grasp the pain and suffering occurring around them? Because all one has to do is take just a brief glimpse into the life of a Pakistani civilian to see that this aid package they tried to stonewall could help these people immediately in many ways. One look is all it takes to realize that there is one thing this package could not do - it couldn't arrive any sooner.
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