04-30-2009, 11:25 PM
<b>Emergency US aid for Pakistan unlikely: Top senator</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->WASHINGTON: The US Congress is unlikely to pass an emergency aid package for Pakistan separate from a broader measure to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a leading senator said Thursday.
"I don't think it's likely," Democratic Senator Richard Durbin said when asked whether the senate would take up a Pakistan aid measure before the 83.4-billion-dollar supplemental spending legislation for the two conflicts.
That package includes about 1.4 billion dollars for Pakistan but may not pass the US Congress for weeks, and some lawmakers have warned that it could be too late to help the "war on terror" ally.
<b>US President Barack Obama's administration has said it wants to speed up to 400 million dollars for Pakistan, and told lawmakers that it may seek other avenues for the funding if they fail to act, according to congressional aides</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"I don't think it's likely," Democratic Senator Richard Durbin said when asked whether the senate would take up a Pakistan aid measure before the 83.4-billion-dollar supplemental spending legislation for the two conflicts.
That package includes about 1.4 billion dollars for Pakistan but may not pass the US Congress for weeks, and some lawmakers have warned that it could be too late to help the "war on terror" ally.
<b>US President Barack Obama's administration has said it wants to speed up to 400 million dollars for Pakistan, and told lawmakers that it may seek other avenues for the funding if they fail to act, according to congressional aides</b>. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->