Pakistan's parliament resumed debate on a massive US aid package Thursday, after rifts opened up between the military and the government over strings attached to the funding.
In an unusual public statement late Wednesday, top military commanders including the army chief said they had "serious concerns" about the bill, which hinges some aid on hard-up Pakistan's efforts to battle Islamist extremism.
US Congress last week voted to triple aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars over the next five years, part of US President Barack Obama's plan to battle militancy through development and fostering democratic institutions.
Opposition MP Faisal Saleh Hayat, who served as a minister in former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's government, attacked the bill, saying it "threatens Pakistan's sovereignty," local television Express reported.
"No one will accept aid with conditions," he said.
The first round of debate Wednesday saw Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani vow to build national consensus, adding that "our army is pro-democracy and highly professional," the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted him as saying.
Gilani also spoke with President Asif Ali Zardari and influential army chief General Ashfaq Kayani about the issue, after a rebuke earlier from the military.
"The forum expressed serious concern regarding clauses impacting on national security. A formal input is being provided to the government," said a statement issued after a meeting of the military top brass.
Kayani "reiterated that Pakistan is a sovereign state and has all the rights to analyse and respond to the threat in accordance with her own national interests," the statement said.
Ahead of the second day of debate Thursday, foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit was at pains to reassure people that the bill did not put any legally-binding requirements on Pakistan.
"It is US legislation and its provisions are not binding on Pakistan. It is also not a bilateral contract or a negotiated document," he said.
As the bill had not yet been signed into law by Obama — the final stage of the process — there was still the opportunity to suggest changes, he said.
Obama had to tread carefully with the new bill after widespread criticism of the previous Bush administration for piling billions of dollars into Pakistan under Musharraf, with little accountability.
The new bill prevents the funding from being used for nuclear proliferation, to support militants or to attack neighbouring countries — namely India — and calls for a cut-off in aid if Pakistan fails to crack down on extremists.
But the statement from the corps commanders has raised concern of a military-civilian rift in a country which only freed itself of the latest spell of military rule under Musharraf just over a year ago.
"Right or wrong, wise or unwise, the bill must not become the basis for fresh cleavages between the army and political opposition on one side and the government on the other," an editorial in the Dawn newspaper said.
The debate comes as Pakistan's military is poised to launch an offensive in the semi-autonomous northwest tribal along the Afghan border, where Taliban and Al-Qaeda rebels are believed to be holed up and in training.
The US has recently increased missile attacks by drones in the area. The Pakistani government publicly decries the attacks as violating the nation's sovereignty, but are widely believed to give tacit support to the strikes.
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