U.S. aid linked to reforms, lawmakers tell Pakistan

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior U.S. senators have warned Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in a letter that future U.S. aid will be influenced by Pakistan's progress toward democratic, civilian-led rule.

Democrats Joe Biden and Patrick Leahy, who chair key Senate committees on foreign policy and foreign aid, sent the letter last week as Pakistan prepared for an election set for this Saturday that is expected to return Musharraf as president.

Biden and Leahy cited recent decisions on the election's conduct -- including Musharraf's standing for re-election while remaining as army chief -- that they said could discredit the political process and tarnish results.

They were also concerned the president will be chosen by the current parliament and assemblies, rather than an electoral college due to be constituted after upcoming parliamentary and assembly elections.

"We have watched events of recent weeks with considerable unease," Biden, of Delaware, and Leahy, of Vermont, said in the September 28 letter obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

The senators described themselves as "friends of Pakistan" who looked forward to "promoting significant support" for it. But they warned, "The degree to which we will be able to do so will be directly influenced by the political developments of the coming weeks."

Biden chairs the Foreign Relations Committee and Leahy chairs the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee.

Pakistan, an important ally in the U.S. war on terror, this year received about $700 million in U.S. economic and military aid. In 2008, it is expected to receive more than $800 million.