Certification comes ahead of Obama’s India visit

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Pakistan this month, shortly after certifying the Pakistan government’s “action against” Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The authorisation is likely to spark outrage in India. Mr. Kerry is due to visit the Vibrant Gujarat summit, which begins in Gandhinagar on January 11, ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit on January 24.
Mr. Kerry will lead the Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad later in January, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry announced this week.
Despite the fact that both the LeT and JeM have resurfaced visibly in the past year in Pakistan and the founders of both, Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, have held public rallies in Pakistan in 2014, the U.S. Secretary of State has signed off on a certification that the Pakistan government has “prevented al-Qaeda, the Taliban and associated terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad from operating in the territory of Pakistan” for the year.
Civilian aid
The certificate is a condition for the U.S. to disburse funds under the Kerry-Lugar Bill for civilian aid to Pakistan that was co-authored by Mr. Kerry in 2009. This year’s grant of $532 million to Pakistan will be disbursed shortly, as the Congress gave its nod to President Obama, the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson disclosed.
According to official agency APP, Mr. Olson met Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to finalise the agenda for Mr. Kerry’s upcoming visit . Significantly, the Kerry-Lugar Bill lapsed in September 2014, but only about half of the $7.5 billion outlay has been disbursed so far.
According to Section 203 of the Bill, which is formally called the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707), there are limitations on clearing the annual $1.5 billion assistance to Pakistan based on actions in the “preceding financial year.”
The authorisation required is that the Pakistan government and military have “ceased support” to extremist and terror groups, that they have “prevented” groups like the LeT and JeM from operating in Pakistan, and carrying out attacks against its neighbours, while dismantling their bases in Muridke, FATA and Quetta.
  • NS  
    The US action to certify Pak on curtailing terrorism, is it a joke? Why should US have two standards in defining terrorism, it is a ploy to keep India & pak inimical towards each other forever.
    Points
    715
    about an hour ago ·   (2) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
    • Benu Bose  
      It seems Pakistan cannot exist without sponsoring terrorism against India.These terrorists,sponsored and trained by the Pakistan Army are a threat for Pakistan itself as they have easy access to Pakistan territory.USA aid to Pakistan is meant to neutralize Taliban and some more specific terror groups.But Pakistan Army continues to plan destruction in Indian territory through the terror groups.USA has to stop military aid to Pakistan to curb aiding terror groups.
      Points
      190
      about an hour ago ·   (2) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
      •  Satish Sharma at Govt of India 
        Under the pretext of conditions laid down in Kevin-Lugar Bill, the US has softened its stand against terrorist organizations in Pakistan in view of the forthcoming visits of Kerry to that country and of Obama to India. This may be for tactical reasons or for saving their own skins or both. But they don't realize that like Bourbons , terrorists learn nothing & forget nothing and America will remain their primary enemy despite massive aid funds.
        about an hour ago ·   (2) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
        • db  
          US is guided by its self interests. India should be ready to fight a lone battle with whatever support it gets.
          Points
          160
          about 2 hours ago ·   (2) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
          • Harshavardhan Annaram  
            What a casual statement by Uncle Sam. The mastermind of 26/11 is mentioned as man of charity and conducts rallies every now and then against India. Without the support of Pak army and its govt would he be able to do that. In the game of dubious theory only India has to bear the burnt. Despite this clear double game by US, I don't understand why India has to follow pro-western policies and globalization norms. The saddest part is we had a galaxy of patriotic leaders during independence struggle but now we cant find a handful of true leaders if we were to trace them.Wake up India before its too late.God bless my country.
            about 2 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
            • SRINATH  
              U.S, views are based on its prime national interest. They play weather game very well to keep their commercial interests.
              about 2 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
              • kasthuri rangan  
                Indians need not worry . Be it a democratic or republican President - he will certify every year that Pakistan is a good country that has arrested militancy and terror group against - whom ? - them. If India is attacked then will come another certification that Americans do not have any direct evidence to link Pakistan. All these conditions are only eye wash to support the epicentre of terrorist of course for their own reasons. The recent happenings across the border is fully evident and USA is certifying Pakistan . No wonder . The people of India should be careful against all the parties in India and also the outside powers and equip themselves to fight the onslaught on their freedom by external forces aptly aided by the local forces
                Points
                9075
                about 3 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
                • satheesh  
                  May be it's time for India to take tough stand against US' double stand.
                  about 3 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
                  • Vincent Thelagathoti  
                    What's new? The super power has always been a super hypocrite. It believes that opportunism is the only virtue in politics. Not any different from any other but enjoys special status owing only to it's economic and military might.
                    about 4 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
                    • jyothi  
                      Despite Pakistan being the breeding ground for terrorists ,one wonders what makes it the darling of both US and China. Surely there must be something wrong.
                      about 4 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
                      • Shunmuga sundram  
                        American aid to pakistan is to safeguard its own interests just like Indian aid to Sri Lankan war machinery barring all Tamil interests.
                        about 4 hours ago ·   (0) ·   (1) ·  reply (0) · 
                        • MSR Ayyangar  
                          Cannot find anything more ridiculous & obnoxious than this certification by USA of Pakistan ...
                          about 4 hours ago ·   (1) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
                          • Raj  
                            The US is never going to change its ways. Pakistan knows that its survival exists on begging for money from the US and acting as a pawn for the Chinese to keep India engaged in petty squabbles. We will continue to be disappointed as long as we expect the US to do our bidding - they will do what they want to do. Remember that the US certified for two decades that Pakistan was not making a nuclear weapon knowing fully well that it was. While this is definitely behavior that should make us angry, the way to respond is through business. Do what China has done and use the economic carrot to squeeze the US.
                            about 5 hours ago ·   (3) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) · 
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