Obama admin. warns Congress against Pakistan curbs

WASHINGTON: Obama administration has warned Congress that some of the restrictions it has placed on Pakistan can jeopardise the US-led campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan.

A policy statement issued on Friday by the Executive Office of the US President, warns the lawmakers that placing such limitations on reimbursement to the government of Pakistan was having a negative impact on bilateral relations.

“The administration strongly objects to the certification requirements in section 1216,” says the statement.

Some of “these certification requirements … require the Secretary of Defence to certify Pakistani cooperation on issues outside of his purview”.

Section 1216 of the recently passed National Defence Authorisation Act for US fiscal year 2013 prohibits reimbursement to Pakistan for support during periods when Nato supply lines to Afghanistan remained closed.

The requirements are “proposed at a particularly sensitive time and would severely constrict DOD’s ability to respond to emergent war-time coalition support requirements, putting at risk the success of our campaign in Afghanistan,” the statement adds.