Obama would 'certainly' sign Kerry Lugar Bill: White House India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Amid all the controversy and apprehensions that President Barack Obama may ask for a review of the Kerry Lugar Bill, the White House has made it clear that the President would sign the bill into law. "The President will sign the legislation. Obviously it is posted on our website in accordance with our pledge to post legislation before the president signs it," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. Addressing media persons during a regular briefing, Gibbs said the aid is very significant for Pakistan, as it would enable the troubled nation to address wide-ranging civil and security issues. "This is part of what many believe is important assistance for Pakistan. Pakistan is a key ally of the US. The bill covers a wide range of civilian aid including security assistance. Obviously the president would sign it," The Nation quoted Gibbs, as saying. Obama has 10 days to sign the bill into law. Meanwhile, in a rare development the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has issued a statement, titled, "Separating Myth from Fact on Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009". The statement clarifies that the Kerry Lugar Bill has nothing extraordinary to which Pakistani political parties and the military is objecting. "The conditions ask nothing beyond what Pakistan's own leaders have already promised," the statement said. The document said each of the conditions mentioned in the bill was the stated policy of the Pakistani government, the major Pakistani opposition parties, and the Pakistani military. Earlier, Senator John Kerry, the co-sponsor of the controversial bill, said the bill contains 'absolutely no requirement or desire' for US oversight on promotions and other internal operations of the Pakistani military. Referring to the widespread discontent over the bill, Kerry said the objections being raised over the aid are aimed at undermining the US, Pakistan relationship. "Those seeking to undermine this partnership, to advance their own narrow partisan or institutional agendas, are doing a serious disservice to the people of the United States and of Pakistan," The Dawn quoted Kerry, as saying.