Understanding the "BIDEN PLAN FOR PAKISTAN"


Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) has called for a new U.S. approach to Pakistan.  Sen. Biden proposes a new long-term approach and relationship with Pakistan; and creating conditions in the region to maximize success.

Sen. Biden proposes a new U.S. approach to Pakistan with main focus on four areas:

1.   The U.S. must triple non-security aid, to $1.5 billion annually for at least a decade.  This aid would he proposes should be unconditional.  It would be the U.S.’s pledge to the people of Pakistan.  These funds would be used to help build the infrastructure in Pakistan with specific focus on education, health care roads and other infra-structure plans. 

2.   The U.S. must condition security aid on performance. Senator Biden has proposed a mechanism of ongoing Military support with mechanisms to evaluate performance, success in the region.

3.   The U.S. must help Pakistan enjoy a “democracy dividend.”  The first year of democratic rule should bring an additional $1 billion – above the $1.5 billion non-security aid baseline.  Sen. Biden supports tying future non-security aid – again, above the guaranteed baseline – to Pakistan’s progress in developing democratic institutions and meeting good-governance norms.  This would allow the democratic government to be able to make appropriate choices and help strengthen the democratic institutions.

4.   The U.S. must engage the Pakistani people, not just their rulers.  This will involve everything from improved public diplomacy and educational exchanges to high impact projects that actually change people’s lives.

PAKPAC fully supports Senator  Biden's proposed  plan. It is critical that the people of Pakistan understand that United States is a friend of the people of Pakistan irrespective of the situation and need analysis.  US involvement in community efforts, public diplomacy, and education exchange is much needed for both the Countries. This should confirm that while Pakistan does have tactical importance for United States, but US support for the people of Pakistan is independent of the tactical importance. US unconditional support after the Oct 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, resulted in the highest US approval rates in the region and was able to help win the hearts and minds of the people. Time has come to have along term approach to have more people learn about US commitment to Pakistan. The past transactional policy and perception of transactional relationship of both the Countries need to be replaced by a long term multilateral unconditional approach.

Senator Biden's views of addressing US policy issues that are of importance to the people of Pakistan is also very welcome and much needed approach. His vision that with appropriate US policies, Pakistan can be a bridge between the West and the global Islamic community is also in line with the views of the Pakistani American community, people of Pakistan and PAKPAC's views.

PAKPAC feels that with Senator Biden's experience and grasp on some of the most important issues in the world would make him an ideal candidate to represent United States as a Secretary of State should the next President be a Democrat.