PakPac

PAKPAC RELEASES SURVEY RESULTS OF THE PAKISTANI AMERICAN COMMUNITY VIEWS ON THE KERRY-LUGAR/ BERMAN BILL

Washington DC; October 10th, 2009 PAKPAC report finding of the survey conducted after the passage from the House and the Senate of the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill.

PAKPAC conducted an online survey of the Pakistani American Community about the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill

The responses to the questions include asking whether the Pakistani-American community had actually read the bill. The results show that a significant proportion (40%) had actually read the text of the bill while the majority had not read the actual text of the bill. One interesting finding was that the source of information that the Pakistani-American community were receiving on the bill included from the Pakistani media. This would include the satellite based channels and also the possibility of Pakistan based web sites. The other source was actual reading of the bill followed by word of mouth.

Most of the people who responded had mentioned that they supported the bill and its development, but however overwhelming majority felt that this bill was not what that they had hoped and worked for and hoped it would be like.

People agreed in the significant majority that they believed that the people of Pakistan needed help at the present time. Majority of the people also felt that this support to the people in Pakistan needs to be provided either through the Pakistani NGOs or the Pakistani-American non-governmental organizations and only a small minority felt that the support should go through the Government of Pakistan.

About 73% of the respondents felt that the main area of concern that they had problem with the bill was with the section 203 on the limitations on certain assistance.

Majority felt that the parts of the bill that talk about strengthening the democracy in Pakistan were reasonable and useful. The people also felt that the aid to Pakistan need to be overseen specifically with focus on that it goes into the areas where it is intended to be.

The questions also discussed whether Pakistan needed support for counter insurgency and a significant proportion felt that the counter insurgency was not up to quality as it was needed at this time. When asked the voices coming out of Pakistan, which are reasonable voices to help strengthen the US/Pakistan relationship, overwhelming majority felt that the civil society was part of Pakistan’s society, which was likely to strengthen Pakistan/US relationship. Interestingly people also felt that the Pakistani army was another part of the Pakistani society and establishment, which would be able to strengthen US/Pakistan relations. Within the political parties, Pakistan Peoples Party was selected amongst the people as the likely source or the political party to work towards the strengthening Pakistan/US relations.

The people felt that the Pakistani media was not playing a constructive role in strengthening Pakistan/United States relationship and they felt with even more of the majority that United States media was playing a very negative role in strengthening Pakistan/United States relationship.

People agreed that nuclear proliferation is not good for the world and while they agreed that it was not good for the world, also a slight majority felt that the US should not be concerned about nuclear proliferation from Pakistan.

When asked about the different components of the section 203 of the bill, it appears that the majority of the people had concerns of the part of the bill which requires relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani Nationals Associated with nuclear weapons related work. This was followed by the concerning area where statement in the bill made about Pakistan even support to elements within the Pakistani military or its intelligence to extremist to terrorist groups was something that has not been worded well and this was a concern to the significant proportion of the people as well.

The people felt that the House Side of the initial bill was poorly written bill and they also felt that that part of the bill was what had led to some of the challenges between Pakistan/US relationship. When asked if there were elements within the minority of the Indian groups that had led to some of these changes through the head of the Foreign Relation Committee of the House, the people felt that that would be a concern and they felt strongly that that actions were contributing to harming US interest in the region. They also strongly felt that because such actions had led to harming the US interest in the region. When asked about the people who had done this to harm US interests not only at home, but abroad should be held accountable especially if they were identified to be working for entities and groups, which were not working in US interests, overwhelming majority agreed on it.

About 86% of the people had felt that the bill that came from the Senate initially was the right bill. People also felt that the community needs to be much more politically involved to make sure that US interest are not compromised especially with respect to Pakistan/US relationship by small fringe elements, which working through small group of legislators can harm US interests.

DETAILS OF QUESTIONS AND REPONSES ARE BELOW

PAK AMERICAN COMMUNITY ON KERRY-LUGAR/BERMAN BILL

Many of the Pakistani American Community Members have been actively involved in Biden Lugar Bill which became the Kerry-Lugar Bill, followed by the development into the Kerry Lugar/ Berman Bill. This Bill has raised a lot of concerns in Pakistan. We are conducting this Survey to be better informed about the views of the Pakistani American community about this Bill in its current form. Please answer the following questions.

Total responses received: 214

1. Single Choice (select one)

Have you actually read the Kerry-Lugar/ Berman Bill?

a. 40 % - Yes

b. 60 % - No

2. Single Choice (select one)

What is the primary source of information that you have about the Kerry-Lugar/ Berman Bill

a. 4 % - Word of mouth

b. 56 % - Pakistani media

c. 5 % - US media

d. 34 % - Actual bill study

e. 1 % - Other

3. Single Choice (select one)

Did you support this Bill at any stage of its development?

a. 81 % - Yes

b. 19 % - No

4. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that the people of Pakistan (not the Government) need help at this time?

a. 94 % - Yes

b. 6 % - No

5. Single Choice (select one)

Does this bill look like what you had hoped it would be like?

a. 14 % - Yes

b. 86 % - No

6. Single Choice (select one)

If you had your way and support was to be sent to Pakistan, Which mechanism would you rather have it go thorough?

a. 6 % - Government of Pakistan

b. 40 % - Pakistani American NGOs

c. 41 % - Pakistani NGOs

d. 9 % - Direct US Assistance

e. 4 % - Other

7. Single Choice (select one)

Which parts of the Bill do you have a problem with? (Click the one with most concerns)

a. 1 % - Sec. 101. Authorization of assistance.

b. 4 % - Sec. 102. Authorization of appropriations.

c. 0.00 % - Sec. 103. Auditing.

d. 5 % - Sec. 201. Purposes of assistance.

e. 2 % - Sec. 202. Authorization of assistance.

f. 73 % - Sec. 203. Limitations on certain assistance

g. 2 % - Sec. 204. Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.

h. 2 % - Sec. 205. Requirements for civilian control of certain assistance.

i. 4 % - Sec. 301. Strategy Reports.

j. 6 % - Sec. 302. Monitoring Reports.

8. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that this Bill does a good job to strengthen the democratic institutions in Pakistan when it requires that support would only be provided if democracy prevails in Pakistan?

a. 70 % - Yes

b. 30 % - No

9. Single Choice (select one)

Do you agree that oversight of the funds going to Pakistan as AID is needed to ensure that the funds are going in the sectors and areas where they are intended for?

a. 93 % - Yes

b. 7 % - No

10. Single Choice (select one)

Do you believe that Pakistan law enforcement agencies have a strong counter insurgency capacity?

a. 28 % - Yes

b. 72 % - No

11. Multiple Choice (You can select multiple answers)

Which of the following voices coming out of Pakistan are reasonable voices to help strengthening US-Pakistan Relations? Please click all that apply.

a. 19 % - Tehreek e Insaaf

b. 11 % - PML-N

c. 29 % - PPP

d. 7 % - MQM

e. 4 % - ANP

f. 3 % - PML-Q

g. 46 % - Pakistani Army

h. 86 % - Civil Society

i. 26 % - Other

12. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that the Media in general in Pakistan has played a constructive role in helping improve relations between Pakistan and United States?

a. 24 % - Yes

b. 76 % - No

13. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that the Media in general in United States has played a constructive role in helping improve relations between Pakistan and United States?

a. 8 % - Yes

b. 92 % - No

14. Single Choice (select one)

Do you agree that Nuclear Proliferation is not good for the world (when done by anyone?)

a. 94 % - Yes

b. 6 % - No

15. Single Choice (select one)

Should US be concerned Nuclear Proliferation about this based on the past history in Pakistan?

a. 45 % - Yes

b. 55 % - No

16. Single Choice (select one)

- If you could remove one part of the Bill which one would it be?

a. 4 %

- Limitation on Security-related Assistance- For fiscal years 2011 through 2014, no security-related assistance may be provided to Pakistan in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, makes the certification required under subsection (c) for such fiscal year.

b. 6 %

- Limitation on Arms Transfers- For fiscal years 2012 through 2014, no letter of offer to sell major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) and no license to export major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to such Act in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, makes the certification required under subsection (c) for such fiscal year.

c. 43 %

- The certification by the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, that the Government of Pakistan is continuing to cooperate with the United States in efforts to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials, such as providing relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks

d. 30 %

- The certification by the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President that the Government of Pakistan has made progress on ceasing support, including by any elements within the Pakistan military or its intelligence agency, to extremist and terrorist groups, particularly to any group that has conducted attacks against United States or coalition forces in Afghanistan, or against the territory or people of neighboring countries;

e. 16 %

- The certification by the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President that the Government of Pakistan has made progress in preventing al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from operating in the territory of Pakistan, including carrying out cross-border attacks into neighboring countries, closing terrorist camps in the FATA, dismantling terrorist bases of operations in other parts of the country, including Quetta and Muridke, and taking action when provided with intelligence about high-level terrorist targets

17. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that the some parts of the Bill (from the house side) are poorly written and counterproductive to what the bill was intended to be?

a. 94 % - Yes

b. 6 % - No

18. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that these are the only parts which have caused this current challenge for both Pakistan and United States?

a. 57 % - Yes

b. 43 % - No

19. Single Choice (select one)

If you were informed that the Indian Embassy in US had very close contacts with the Staffer of Congressman Berman who wrote the Bill and this group had encouraged her to write the parts that are of concern to the people of Pakistan, would you agree that this activity and effort have harmed US interests in the region?

a. 98 % - Yes

b. 2 % - No

20. Single Choice (select one)

If the above is true, do you think that Congressman Berman and his staff should take some responsibility in negatively impacting the US-Pakistan relations at such a critical juncture?

a. 99 % - Yes

b. 1 % - No

21. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that the Senate side of the bill was a better bill (before that final version of the bill came out?)

a. 86 % - Yes

b. 13 % - No

22. Single Choice (select one)

Do you think that if you were more politically involved and committed to becoming a political voice in the US and empowered some of the people working on such a challenge could have been avoided.

a. 91 % - Yes

b. 9 % - No