GAO Documents Lack of Oversight, Accountability for U.S. Anti-Terrorism Funds
to Pakistan
WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a result of an investigation
requested by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) today released a report showing a troubling lack
of oversight and accountability for U.S. funds to Pakistan that were meant to
combat terrorism along its border with Afghanistan.
"I'm shocked at the lack of oversight of billions of dollars that have been
doled out in Pakistan in an effort to fight terrorism," said Committee
Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA).
The United States has provided Pakistan about $5.6 billion in payments, known
as Coalition Support Funds, since the 9/11 attacks. In its investigation, the
GAO found several cases where the Bush Administration could not explain or
account for such payments, including millions of dollars for road construction
with no evidence that any roads were built, and reimbursement costs to the
Pakistan military that may be duplicative.
"The report documents how U.S. funds were used without any evidence that they
supported counter-terrorism efforts," Berman noted. "The U.S. government is
being asked to reimburse Pakistan for non-incremental air defense radar
maintenance when Al Qaeda is not even known to have an air force. The purpose
of these funds is to support the fight against extremists, not to boost
Pakistan's conventional warfare capability."
In early May, the Foreign Affairs Committee examined some of the conclusions
of an earlier GAO report it had commissioned on U.S.-Pakistan policy. Berman
today said the committee will continue to follow the matter closely to ensure
that the Administration puts in place improved systems of accountability for
funding to Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts.
To view the new GAO report visit:
http://www.hcfa.house.gov/110/gao062408.pdf.
SOURCE House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Lynne Weil of House Committee on Foreign Affairs Congressman Howard L. Berman
(D-CA), Chairman, +1-202-225-5021
