Oct 7, 2009, 14:28 GMT
Islamabad - Pakistan's army on Wednesday expressed 'serious concern' over a US financial aid bill that many critics say has conditions that compromise the sovereignty of the Muslim country.
The apprehensions were concerned in an army press statement following a meeting of the corps commanders of the Pakistan Army chaired by its chief General Ishfaq Parvez Kayani.
The US Congress last week approved a bill - co-authored by Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar - to provide Pakistan 1.5 billion dollars annually for the next five years for social and economic assistance.
The bill, which has yet to be signed by President Barack Obama, conditions the aid with Pakistan's all out support in fight against Taliban and al-Qaeda, which have safe-havens in country's lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
The western countries have suspected 'elements' within Pakistan military and its prime spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence for assisting Islamist militants that launch cross border attacks into Afghanistan.
The legislation demands Pakistan to take action against nuclear proliferation networks by giving 'direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks,' in a clause that many Pakistani believe is meant for disgraced nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
Khan, 72, publicly admitted that he shared nuclear secrets with Iran, North Korea and Libya in 2004 and remains under house arrest since then. But he still enjoys the status of a national hero for being the founder of Pakistan's nuclear program.
Some analysts have said many former and in-service Pakistani military officials might have been involved in the proliferation together with Khan.
Pakistan has repeatedly said it has provided information gained from Khan to US officials but would never allow them to question him.
The army statement on Wednesday described some clauses in Karry- Lugar bill as 'impacting on National Security.'
'It is the parliament, that represents the will of the people of Pakistan, which would deliberate on the issue, enabling the government to develop a national response,' the statement said.
The army statement came as the country's national parliament started a debate on the bill on the request of the main opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
A PML-N senior leader and lawmaker Javed Hashmi said the Kerry- Lugar was a document that was pushing Pakistan into complete 'enslavement of the Americans.'
'We should rely on our own resources instead begging aids from other countries,' he added.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that the bill was not aimed at any interference in country's internal affairs.
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