Congress okays bill again to lift sanctions against India, Pakistan

WASHINGTON, October 21: Kicked around like a football in a domestic budget scuffle, a legislation empowering President Bill Clinton to re...

WASHINGTON, October 21: Kicked around like a football in a domestic budget scuffle, a legislation empowering President Bill Clinton to relax economic sanctions against India and Pakistan was approved again on Tuesday by the US Congress.

The so-called Brownback Amendment, which was tagged to a big spending bill, was cleared once but was returned to the legislature because President Clinton vetoed the farm bill to which it was attached because of domestic differences with the Congress. Brownback has now ridden piggyback again on a revised omnibus spending bill.

Under the legislation passed yesterday, the President has been granted the authority to waive sanctions against India and Pakistan for a year excluding those relating to military use and technology and dual-use items. The law is expected to pass through the Senate today and will go to the President for signature soon after.

The Clinton administration is expected to use the waiver as a carrot to goad Pakistan and India into toning down their nuclearposture and settling their differences. Pakistan, more than India, desperately needs the waiver to be exercised because of its perilous economic situation which pushed it close to default.

In the last two days, Islamabad has been pushed closer to the abyss with the International Monetary Fund canceling negotiations on the $ 1.6 billion bailout package until the Nawaz Sharif Government resolves conflict with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with whom it has reneged on contracts.

Meanwhile, the Clinton administration has also cancelled the annual Pakistan-United States Consultative Group on security and defence issues because of sanctions, sources said. Similar talks with India have also been scuppered. Officials here say however that the President is not automatically obliged or expected to use his waiver powers. He will do so in close consultation with the Congress.

, one official emphasised, “because he may have to go back to them for other legislation in this area and he does not want to make amistake or offend law-makers.”