The freeze on security aid to Pakistan, announced by the Donald Trump Administration early this year, has been incorporated in the $1.3 trillion spending bill which will fund the federal Government for the remainder of fiscal 2018.
Congressional leaders, after weeks of negotiations, on Wednesday night reached a deal on federal spending till September 30, two days before a deadline to fund the Government or risk a shutdown.
The 2,232-page draft bill provides the largest funding increase for the US military in 15 years and makes significant investments in national priorities like infrastructure and border security.
In January, the US had suspended about $2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network terror groups and dismantle their safe havens.
According to the legislation, any assistance to Pakistan under the “Foreign Military Financing Programme” may be made available only to support counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency capabilities in Pakistan.
The bill withholds $33 million in financial assistance to Pakistan unless the Secretary of State informs the Congress that Dr Shakil Afridi is released from jail and cleared of all charges relating to the assistance provided to the US in locating Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin laden.
In 30 days of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State would consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the funds that is anticipated to be subject to the January 2018 policy decision of the Trump Administration to suspend security assistance for Pakistan.