By APP
Washington : Two top Democratic senators, who observed last week’s landmark parliamentary polls in Pakistan, said Tuesday they have been greatly encouraged by Pakistani political leaders’ commitment to move forward in a constructive manner. “I think Senator (Joseph) Biden, Senator (Chuck) Hagel and I were all enormously encouraged by the conversations we had with the leaders of each of the parties and by their commitment to try to move forward in a constructive way,” Senator John Kerry told a Press conference.
However, in reference to challenges facing the South Asian country, he said there is an “enormous amount of work to do.”
Pakistan People Party Parliamentarians, led by Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, emerged as victors in February 18 election. The three US senators met leaders of political parties during their visit.
The elections are being viewed in the United States as representing a historic step towards democratic progress and a massive gain for moderate political forces at a time when the country is confronting challenges on of extremism on its Afghan border.
The US and Pakistani experts have particularly welcomed the emergence of Awami National Party and PPPP in the NWFP as a hopeful sign for South Asian ally’s progress as a moderate and forward-looking nation.
Senator Joseph Biden, who chairs the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, told the Press Conference that the Pakistanis should be rewarded with tripling of American assistance for socio-economic development of the country over the next decade.
He particularly identified projects like schools, roads, hospitals, clinics, and estimated the aid would jump from current level of around $ 500 million to one billion and 500 million (1.5 billion) dollars.
“I also believe there should be a democracy dividend, if they put this government together. If, in fact, they actually make this transition peacefully, there should be a billion-dollar democracy dividend,” he added.
Biden also favoured development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas as a way to hold off challenges of extremism.