US House of Representatives put bar on aid to Pakistan

US lawmakers expressed growing scepticism about the war in Afghanistan on Tuesday as a House panel approved $649 billion in defence spending for the 2012 fiscal year, including $118 billion for wars abroad.

The bill imposes limits on American aid to Pakistan and creates a special bipartisan group to review the US role in Afghanistan. The panel agreed to a proposal by Representative Jeff Flake to tighten congressional oversight over $1.1 billion in counterinsurgency funds approved for Pakistan. Congress would have 30 days to review administration spending plans before 75 percent of the funds could be released.

Read more...