By Arun Kumar
Washington, Dec 11 (IANS) Acceding to President Barack Obama’s request for a sharp increase in economic and military assistance to Pakistan, the US House of Representatives has authorised $1.5 billion annually in non-military aid over the next five years tied to progress in fighting terrorists.

The measure, a version of which is pending in the Senate, has been the subject of intense discussions between the Obama administration and key lawmakers and was adopted Thursday.

Called the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act, the measure would also authorise an initial $300 million and more in subsequent years to help Pakistan in its fight against extremists.

The House measure is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s democratic institutions, judicial and education systems, and funnel assistance to agriculture and rural development and support access to education and development for women.

One provision calls for “proper oversight of all educational institutions, including madrassas” and “regular monitoring of curriculum by Pakistan’s Ministry of Education to ensure students receive a comprehensive education”.

In addition to the $1.5 billion in annual economic aid, the House measure authorizes $300 million in 2010 to create a new Pakistan Counter-insurgency Capability Fund to help the government fight extremists, with additional allocations as needed until 2013. Another $400 million is included in a separate war funding bill, making a total of $700 million for the fund.

However, assistance could stop unless the US president annually certifies Pakistan is cooperating with nuclear non-proliferation efforts, dismantling nuclear supply networks, and making progress fighting terrorist groups. And all aid must flow through an elected civilian government.

The language of the measure was modified in the face of objections from the White House and Pentagon. But House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman asserts the remaining conditions are neither rigid nor inflexible and would not constrain the US military in helping Pakistan.

“We are simply asking Pakistan to follow through with the commitments it has already made,” said Howard Berman.

“If the [US] president is unable to make these determinations, then we should be asking ourselves much deeper questions about what we really hope to achieve in Pakistan. By including these accountability provisions in this bill, we lay down an important marker that Congress will no longer provide a blank cheque.”