Murmurs in Congress on cutting aid to Pakistan

The administration this year requested $800m in aid to Pakistan. Pres. Musharraf has since announced emergency rule, postponed elections, and cracked down on protesters -- but there have been no ultimatums from the administration and no sign that funds will be cut.

In testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee this afternoon, Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte argued that aid should stay, arguing that Pakistan"cutting these programs would send a negative signal to the people of Pakistan"

Some in Congress see things differently -- which is why Senator Biden (chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) received a call on Tuesday. It was Musharraf on the line, urging him not to cut off the aid. Biden has said that  Pakistan"I told President Musharraf how critical it is for relations between our two countries that elections go forward as planned in January...That he follow through on his commitment to take off his uniform and that he restore the rule of law to Pakistan." MORE

Others, such as Gary Ackerman (D-NY), were more specific."This time there should be consequences, and cut off all other us assistance until the state of emergency is lifted." said Ackerman. "We should stop delivery of any further F-16s [warplanes] to Pakistan and cut off all other us assistance until the state of emergency is lifted."

He was joined by Jane Harman (D-CA): "President Musharraf must be told to revoke martial law, release the thousands of Pakistanis imprisoned in recent days, restore freedom of the press, relinquish his military position, and proceed with democratic reforms...American military and economic aid should be suspended until he does so."

Is this just tough talk, or does an aid cutoff to Pakistan have legs?

• For more: CQ TODAY, Nov. 7, 2007, Pakistan Crackdown Has Lawmakers Considering Aid Cutoff, By Colby Itkowitz, CQ Staff