ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Daniel Feldman declared that the ties between Pakistan-US were moving from aid-based to trade-based relationship.
Speaking to a group of journalists at the US Embassy, he ruled out extension in Kerry-Lugar legislation under which Washington provided about $5 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan over the past five years. The Kerry-Lugar-Berman authorisation was for five years and wouldn’t be further extended, he said.
The special envoy, however, said the US was trying to avoid a ‘precipitous decline’ in assistance funding for Pakistan and the executive would continue to request Congress for appropriations.
Under the aid legislation enacted by the Congress in 2009, the US was to provide $7.5bn in non-military aid over five years to help the civilian government to deliver essential services. But, during the five years only $5bn could be committed.
“The relationship would change from assistance-based to trade,” he said and described the ties as ‘realistic, optimistic and productive’.
Although Mr Feldman did not list the special steps being taken to transform the nature of relationship, he, in an Op-Ed piece, said “our partnership will also thrive through trade and investment. The United States is already Pakistan’s largest trading partner and source of foreign investment…. Expanding trade and investment will require improving Pakistan’s competitiveness – and that is something which I am convinced we can accomplish together”.
On Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan, he noted that the change in Afghan government had provided a ‘remarkably unique opportunity’ for regional stability.
Mr Feldman, who had held a series of meetings at the Foreign Office and General Headquarters earlier in the day, called on ‘all stakeholders’ to seize the new opportunity.
