ISAS Briefs

As the United States Administration seems poised to engage effectively with the South Asian region, at least in the short run, the Kerry-Lugar Bill is meant to pursue these interests with support from Pakistan's beleaguered government. While the Pakistani government declares the aid passage as a triumph of its diplomacy, the critics claim that it is a sell-out of national sovereignty. They point to some of the 'degrading' conditions which Pakistan may be obliged to accept before aid can be disbursed. Given the track record of its aid disbursements, the United States Congress will perhaps not acquiesced to anything less. The aid will most likely continue with conditions as long as interests converge.