Pakistan says US aid violates its sovereignty; China grows share of global trade; US sentate passes healthcare bill; Russia won't budge on Iran sanctions; and more
Top of the Agenda: Pakistan’s US Aid Concerns
US senators are seeking to reassure Pakistan (Al-Jazeera) about conditions attached to a $7.5 billion aid package bill, which Pakistan's parliament has criticized for violating the country's sovereignty and "micro-management" of military operations in Pakistan.
The aid package, which is co-authored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), would triple non-military aid to Pakistan, increasing aid to $1.5 billion per year for five years. According to the bill, the secretary of state would have to periodically certify that Pakistan is working to dismantle illegal nuclear proliferation networks and affirm that Pakistan is not supporting militant groups.
During meetings in Washington, Senator Kerry told Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi that there was no reason to be concerned (BBC) with the bill, which has been cleared by Congress, and that it does not need to be changed. The Washington Post reports that President Obama will sign the bill this week after Congress issues a statement aimed at easing Pakistanis' concerns about violating their sovereignty.
Analysis:
The BBC says the objections indicate a disconnect between the army and civilian leaders, which have lauded the Kerry-Lugar bill as a successful engagement with the United States
The New York Times says the aid bill threatens to undermine Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who has insisted on greater civilian oversight of the military as a condition of the aid.
Foreign Policy's Dan Twining says the dispute reveals Pakistani public hostility (FP) to the US-Pakistan relationship.
Background:
A CFR Backgrounder discusses Pakistan's fragile foundations.
A CFR Interactive Timeline explores the history of US-Pakistan relations.
PACIFIC RIM: China Gains Global Trade Share
Chinese exports had their smallest decline (BBC) in nine months in September, suggesting improvement in global economic demand. The New York Times reports that China's growing share of global trade threatens to increase frictions with the European Union and the United States where it displaced Canada this year as the largest supplier of imports.
North Korea: During his two-day visit to Beijing, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters that the United States and North Korea's neighbors are trying to draw North Korea into nuclear disarmament talks (Reuters), despite recent skepticism about Kim Jong-il's stated willingness to return to six-party talks about dismantling his country's nuclear program.
ELSEWHERE:
U.S. Senate Passes Healthcare Reform Bill
Russia Withholds Support on Iran Sanctions
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org