Declaration of principles
Congress declares that the relationship between the United States and Pakistan should be based on the following principles:
(1)
Pakistan is a critical friend and ally to the United States, both in times of strife and in times of peace, and the two countries share many common goals, including combating terrorism and violent radicalism, solidifying democracy and rule of law in Pakistan, and promoting the social and material well-being of the people of Pakistan.
(2)
United States assistance to Pakistan is intended to supplement, not supplant, Pakistan’s own efforts in building a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan, and United States assistance will be wholly ineffective without Pakistan’s own serious efforts to improve the health, education, and living standards of its population, including maintaining or increasing the financial resources devoted to such efforts.
(3)
The United States supports Pakistan’s struggle against extremist elements and recognizes the profound sacrifice made by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, including the loss of more than 1,600 soldiers since 2001 in combat with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremist and terrorist groups.
(4)
The United States intends to work with the Government of Pakistan—
(A)
to build mutual trust and confidence by actively and consistently pursuing a sustained, long-term, multifaceted relationship between the two countries, devoted to strengthening the mutual security, stability, and prosperity of both countries;
(B)
to support the people of Pakistan and their democratic government in their efforts to consolidate democracy, through strengthening Pakistan’s parliament, helping Pakistan reestablish an independent and transparent judicial system, and working to extend the rule of law in all areas in Pakistan;
(C)
to promote long-term development and infrastructure projects, including in healthcare, water management, and energy programs, in all areas of Pakistan, that are sustained and supported by each successive democratic government in Pakistan;
(D)
to encourage sustainable economic development in Pakistan and the integration of Pakistan into the global economy in order to improve the living conditions of the people of Pakistan;
(E)
to ensure that the people of Pakistan, including those living in areas governed by the FCR, have access to public, modernized education and vocational training to enable them to provide for themselves, for their families, and for a more prosperous future for their children;
(F)
to expand people-to-people engagement between the two countries, through increased educational, technical, and cultural exchanges and other methods;
(G)
to ensure transparency of and provide effective accountability for all United States assistance and reimbursements provided to Pakistan;
(H)
to take steps to improve Pakistan’s counterterrorism financing and anti-money laundering laws to comply with international standards, to include applying for "Financial Action Task Force" observer status and adhering to the United Nations International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism;
(I)
to establish a counterinsurgency and counterterrorism strategy to prevent any territory of Pakistan from being used as a base or conduit for terrorist attacks in Pakistan, or elsewhere, and ensure that madrasas in Pakistan are not used to incite terrorism;
(J)
to ensure that Pakistan has strong and effective law enforcement and national defense forces, under civilian leadership, with sufficient and appropriate security equipment and training to effectively defend Pakistan against internal and external threats;
(K)
to ensure access of United States investigators to individuals suspected of engaging in worldwide proliferation of nuclear materials, as necessary, and restrict such individuals from travel or any other activity that could result in further proliferation;
(L)
to help Pakistan meet its commitment to not support any person or group that conducts violence, sabotage, or other activities meant to instill fear or terror in Pakistan’s neighboring countries; and
(M)
to help Pakistan gain control of its under-governed areas and stop any support, direction, guidance to, or acquiescence in the activities of, any person or group that engages in acts of violence or intimidation against civilians, civilian groups, or governmental entities.
...Columnist Fasi Zaka in one of his columns suggested that the kind of anti-Americanism found these days (among the middle-classes of the country) is extremely ill-informed. He wrote that a lot of young Pakistanis are basing their understanding of international politics by watching low-budget straight-to-video ‘documentaries’ on Youtube!
