US media for tighter monitoring of American military aid

In an editorial to coincide with talks between President George W Bush and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the New York Times said the the imbalance it seeks to remedy between “lavish but misdirected military aid and miserly economic assistance” was highlighted in the recent Congressional skirmish over who would pay for modernising Pakistan’s jet fighters.

“The modernised F-16 is a high-technology plane, mainly intended to deter India, and is poorly suited to counterinsurgency operations along the Afghan border,” the paper said, noting that the original plan was for Pakistan to pay the USD 230 million a year but now the White House and Gilani want Congress to pick up the tab.

Gilani, it said, is eager to keep the Pakistani military happy and the new army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, is a professional who has supported the transition to civilian government.

If Washington pays, it would also, in theory, free up those millions for badly needed social spending, it said, adding that if spent wisely, that money could go far.

Under present aid formulas, Washington can pay for the F-16 upgrades only by shifting funds from equipment better suited for fighting the Taliban.

Pakistan needs more such equipment, including Cobra helicopters and night-vision goggles.

“Pakistan should not be modernising the F-16’s at all, but that deal was made long ago. Congress should hold its nose and approve this year’s F-16 money, plus additional emergency funds for the helicopters and goggles. Then it should quickly enact the Biden-Lugar legislation,” it opined.

That way, the Times said, Pakistan will have reliable funding for future social programmes and be able to focus American military aid on counter-terrorism.

“It is an imperfect solution but could be the start of a better relationship one that promotes democracy and the fight against Al Qaeda,” the editorial conceded.

Gilani’s constituents, the Times said, deeply resent the United States for propping up and enabling their former dictator, Pervez Musharraf. President Bush, who directed that enabling, must have his own serious doubts about Gilani’s willingness to fight Taliban and Qaeda forces that are using Pakistan as a safe haven.

“That is why Mr. Bush needs to use this visit to recast relations making clear that he is committed to strengthening both Pakistan’s democracy and its ability to fight extremism. That will require a lot more economic assistance and more carefully monitored military aid.”

For their part, the paper stressed, Pakistan’s civilian leaders must provide more honest and effective governance.

They must tell their voters that extremism also threatens Pakistan and that this is not just America’s fight.

The government also needs to find new ways of asserting its authority in the tribal areas, by providing better social services, promoting economic development and working more closely with tribal leaders, the editorial said.

“And it must send more elite troops trained in counterinsurgency to take on Al Qaeda and the Taliban,” it added.