Military opened a rift with the civilian Government and the Obama Administration yesterday when it expressed serious concern over a US Bill that triples non-military aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over the next five years. The army took the unusual step of issuing a statement just as the Pakistani parliament was about to debate the Kerry-Lugar Bill, siding with opposition critics who say that it violates national sovereignty by imposing humiliating conditions. The Bill, which was approved by the US Congress last week and is about to be signed into law by President Obama, would provide Pakistan with $1.5 billion a year over five years for democratic, economic and social development programmes. It also allows such sums as may be necessary for military aid, subject to specific conditions such as Pakistan taking action against militant groups. The Pakistani military issued the statement after General Ashfaq Kayani, the army chief, held a regular meeting with his top commanders in the garrison town of Rawalpindi. General Kayani reiterated that Pakistan is a sovereign state and has all the rights to analyse and respond to the threat in accordance with her own national interests, it said. Kerry-Lugar Bill also came under discussion during the conference, it added. The forum expressed serious concern regarding clauses impacting on national security. Parliament is still expected to endorse the US aid package, while passing a resolution expressing its concerns, but the army statement embarrassed President Zardari and bolstered an already strong anti-American lobby. US officials say that the aid package is designed to strengthen the campaign against Islamic militancy by fighting poverty in Pakistan, as well as addressing concerns about military aid being misspent. Critics in Pakistan say that the conditions give Washington too much influence over domestic and foreign policy, and some argue that the Bill should be revised or rejected outright. The main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), said that potential amendments should be discussed in parliament and put to the United States. The incompetence of the Zardari regime has brought humiliation for Pakistan, said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the PML (N), led by the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Any conditionality with such assistance must respect Pakistans sovereignty and self-respect. Mushahid Hussain, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), another opposition party, said: The Bill has put Pakistan and its people in the dock. The most controversial conditions include one stipulating that US military aid will cease if Pakistan does not take action against militants in the southwestern city of Quetta and the eastern town of Muridke. American officials believe that Afghan Taleban leaders are sheltering in Quetta, and US and Indian officials say that Muridke is home to a training camp used by Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group blamed for last years attack on Mumbai. Another condition seeks Pakistani co-operation to dismantle nuclear supplier networks by offering relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks a clear reference to the disgraced nuclear scientist A. Q. Khan. Pakistan has refused to allow foreign investigators to question Mr Khan, saying that it has passed on all information gleaned from him. Some critics of the Bill are also worried about US plans to expand diplomatic missions in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi to help to dispense the extra civilian aid. Pakistani and US officials have defended the Bill, saying that it is in both countries interests and does not impose any conditions that do not already apply to military aid. The Bill acknowledges Pakistan as a critical friend and ally and also the profound sacrifices it has made in the War on Terror, Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for Mr Zardari, said in a statement. US officials had downplayed the protests until yesterday, saying that many critics were playing politics, had not even read the Bill and did not appreciate how long it would take to revise it. But the militarys public intervention will now raise fears of a rift with Washington just as the army is poised to launch a long-awaited operation in the tribal region of South Waziristan, the main stronghold of the Taleban and al-Qaeda. (The Times)