Washington - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bob Corker (R-TN) successfully attached an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill that passed the Senate late last night in order to help ensure that military assistance for Pakistan is actually being used for its purpose: to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda. The Menendez-Corker legislative language would mandate a certification by the U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, before Pakistan is reimbursed with Coalition Support Funds, that the payment is both in the national security interests of the U.S., and will not affect the balance of power in the region.

"To this point, almost eight years and more than seven billion in American taxpayer dollars for Pakistan's military have not prevented the Taliban and al Qaeda from regrouping along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border," said Menendez. "The fight against these extremists is crucial for our own security, which is why we have to certify that our support is in fact doing what we intend it to do and is not being used for other purposes. This is an issue of national security and of responsibility with taxpayer dollars, and it is important that passed the Senate."

"We appreciate the important role Pakistan has played in our fight to eliminate the terrorist safe havens within their borders, but we also owe it to our service members and the American taxpayer to ensure that the funds provided to Pakistan out of the Coalition Support Funds are in fact being directed toward those efforts and not misdirected," said Corker.

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