950827

Amendment to Pressler

law will remove curbs

on Pakistan: Brown

ISLAMABAD: US Senator Hank Brown on Sunday hoped his amendment will clarify the Pressler Amendment this year, removing restrictions on "the kind of activities that all Americans and Pakistanis agree we ought to be involved in".

"What we think will happen this year is a clarification of the Pressler Amendment so that it does not exclude those kind of activities that all Americans and Pakistanis agree that we ought to be involved in", he told reporters after planting a sapling at Shakarparian.

Pakistan's ambassador to US Dr Maleeha Lodhi, US ambassador to Pakistan C J Monjo and chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Zafar Iqbal accompanied him at the tree plantation ceremony, after the US Senator flew into the capital in the afternoon.

The Republican Senator said, his amendment seeks to clarify that the US deals fairly with Pakistan on the issue of military equipment for which it has paid the money but has neither got the equipment nor the money back.

Brown hoped to get the military equipment issue resolved this year as well.

The senator from Colorado said removal of the restrictions imposed by the Pressler Amendment will greatly increase the trade relations between the two countries.

Replying to a question about the Pressler Amendment's being a country-specific legislation he said:

"It is clearly one of the most difficult parts of the Amendment - I hope it is not on the fore front now".

Brown said: "Our friendship will grow as this tree grows - our friendship is based on friendship between two people who are committed to freedom".

He said the American people share commitment with the Pakistanis to strengthen the friendship.

Later, he visited the grand Faisal Mosque. Brown praised the magnificent structure amid the picturesque setting of the Margala Hills.-APP