Bipartisan Pressure Builds to Curb Pakistan Aid

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle want to see a tighter rein put on U.S, aid to Pakistan, after American military and intelligence forces found Osama bin Laden hiding right under the noses of Pakistani authorities. The White House originally proposed to send Pakistan $3 billion in aid as part of the 2012 budget, The Hill reports.

Sen. Bob Corker: Opportunity for change. (Getty Images Photo)

On the Republican side, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said this represents an opportunity to change how the United States doles out aid to Pakistan. “We’ve known for some time” that Pakistani officials have sometimes lied to the United States about helping in the fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban, he said.

On the Democratic side, “According to recent documents, including the president’s April Afghanistan-Pakistan metrics report, certain elements of the Pakistani defense and intelligence establishments continue to provide direct and indirect support to groups that directly threaten the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan’s own stability,” Rep. Howard Berman of California wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.