As Pakistan debates the US economic aid package of $ 7.5 billion over the next five years, we have a paradox. While the Pakistan Army is whipping up a political frenzy against the US aid legislation, called the Kerry-Lugar Bill, the People's Party is trying to bravely defend it. The bill becomes law when President Barack Obama signs it in the next few days.

Why does the Army, the biggest beneficiary of American benevolence towards Pakistan over the last sixty years, say the Kerry-Lugar bill violates the nation's sovereignty? And why is the PPP -- the only pan-national political formation -- arguing that the bill is in the interests of the Pakistani people?

At the source of the current controversy is a section of the bill that says the US Secretary of State in consultation with the Secretary of Defence must report to the US Congress every six months on a variety of issues ranging from non-proliferation to counter-terrorism and civil-military relations.

These are not 'conditions' that determine aid flows, but mere demands on the Administration to 'monitor' and 'report' on Congressional concerns. Nevertheless, the GHQ in Rawalpindi does not like the Kerry-Lugar list. There is one particular item that gets its goat.

Section 302 (a) (15) of the Kerry-Lugar bill says the Secretary of State must offer the following every six months: "an assessment of the extent to which the Government of Pakistan exercises effective civilian control of the military, including a description of the extent to which civilian executive leaders and parliament exercise oversight and approval of military budgets, the chain of command, the process of promotion for senior military leaders, civilian involvement in strategic guidance and planning, and military involvement in civil administration."

... contd.