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WASHINGTON: Pakistan's ambassador to the United States has appreciated US Congressional backing for continued support for his country, as it grapples with the challenge of militancy and economic development.
“We're thankful to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for defeating an amendment to the Foreign Assistance authorization bill that would have have restricted all US security assistance to Pakistan,” Ambassador Husain Haqqani said after the panel disapproved a move to cut off assistance for his nation.
The move in the House panel, voted down 39-5, sought to stop all aid for Pakistan in a measure for new fiscal year. It came amid strains in the relationship between the two countries, who have been working together in the fight against al-Qaeda linked terrorists along the Afghan border.
The rejected amendment followed Washington's decision to delay $800 million in security assistance for Islamabad.
In his comments, Ambassador Haqqani noted that US-Pakistan relations face many challenges and “we look forward to working together in addressing concerns of the US Congress.”
“Our efforts to present Pakistan's case before Congress and to explain our difficulties and limitations continue. We still have several hurdles to climb and many misgivings to address before the Congressional process of aid authorization and appropriation is completed,” he added in a statement.
