U.S. lawmakers approved drastic cuts in military aid to Pakistan

A U.S. Senate committee Thursday approved measures aimed at reducing U.S. aid to Pakistan because of tensions between the two countries and the conviction Wednesday of a doctor who helped the CIA to find Osama Bin Laden. An amendment proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham to cut $ 33 million in aid to Pakistan was passed unanimously with 30 votes in favor and none against. The figure was chosen in reference to the number of years in prison he received the doctor Shakeel Afridi was sentenced on Wednesday to charges including treason, in the first instance to 33 years in prison for a tribal court for having helped the CIA to find Osama Bin Laden, who died in May 2011 by a U.S. command in the north. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, estimated that Afridi "is not a spy." At the same time, lawmakers approved a 58% cut in aid to Pakistan if the country fails to return to allow transit of U.S. military to supply its soldiers in Afghanistan, a cut in aid to Afghanistan, 28% and 77% aimed at Iraq. In total, this bill provides finance $ 184 million for State Department operations in Pakistan and Islamabad 800.3 million, of which 50 million to fight violent extremism. These cuts are aimed at military aid only and not for financial support, which support 475 million remains intact. "If this is how Pakistan is a friend and a hero, I'm not sure these funds," Feinstein launched about Afridi's conviction. A subcommittee had approved these drastic cuts on Tuesday. Funding for international assistance amounting to 52,000 million dollars.