Obama may veto anti-Pak aid bill

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has warned the lawmakers that she would recommend President Barack Obama to veto a bill, which imposes aid restrictions on several countries including Pakistan.

Clinton said this in a letter to leadership of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which last week passed the foreign authorisation bill, which among other things requires a certification from the secretary of state that Pakistan is not supporting terrorist activities.

“For Pakistan, the bill toughens the certification criteria for assistance under Kerry-Lugar-Berman Pakistan legislation and removes altogether that law’s waiver authorities,” Clinton told the Congressional leadership expressing her strong opposition to the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act.

The bill includes onerous restrictions and State operations, international organizations and foreign assistance, Clinton said in her letter dated July 26.

“The Secretary did send a letter to the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as well as Ranking Member Howard Berman objecting to the authorisation bill that the House Foreign Affairs panel approved last week on a party-line vote,” state department spokesman Mark Toner said.