Washington, D.C.—The House Armed Services Committee today heard testimony from senior Administration officials on policy and funding developments between the United States and Pakistan. Ranking Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) released the following prepared statement for the hearing:
“Thank you to our Chairman, Ike Skelton, for holding today’s hearing on Pakistan. This morning’s discussion gives us an opportunity to focus on our policy toward Pakistan, our strategic interests in the region and the types of tools that are critical to expanding our partnership with Pakistani security forces, supporting their operations against extremists, and assisting in the development of their counterinsurgency capabilities. I would like to welcome our witnesses: Under Secretary of Defense Michelle Flournoy, Lieutenant General John Paxton, and Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro. I look forward to your testimonies and a candid dialogue on this important topic.
“Almost one year ago to the day, this committee held a similar hearing focused on Pakistan. I think it is important to take a brief moment to highlight where we were then as compared to where we are today. At that time, the President had just released his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan and began to make the case to the American people that security and stability in the region are vital to U.S. national security interests. In Pakistan, instability and violence had reached new heights with the insurgency moving eastward toward the capital of Islamabad and bombings and suicide attacks on the rise.
“In Congress, this committee, along with the appropriators, were in the midst of scrubbing the President’s war time emergency supplemental request which included a new authority and funding stream called the ‘Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund’ or PCCF, which was designed to improve the capacity and capabilities of Pakistan’s security forces to deny safe haven and to defeat al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremists groups within Pakistani territory. We were also beginning to review legislation that had been introduced in the House which called for ‘heavy’ limitations and conditions on U.S. security assistance to Pakistan.
“One year later, Pakistan continues to be crucial to regional and global security. The White House has moved from strategic reviews to implementation and assessment – although the Administration may have oversold their process for measuring progress and failed to meet expectations with their recent metrics report submitted to Congress. In Pakistan, the government and people are increasingly seeing the insurgency operating from the tribal border areas as the most existential threat to their country. Pakistani security forces have stepped up operations against insurgents in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and the FATA—retaking territory and making significant arrests, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Afghan Taliban’s top military commander and a key aide to Mullah Omar.
“The PCCF has become a vital tool for the Commander of U.S. Central Command in his efforts to assist Pakistan in expanding its counterinsurgency capabilities. The Congress aligned the PCCF authority with the operational command consistent with the guidance in the COIN manual. During this same period of time, the Administration asked Congress to move the PCCF authority to the State Department. I will address my concerns with that decision in a moment. Congress passed legislation that was signed into law, providing $7.5 billion in economic and civilian aid to the government of Pakistan without substantial conditions and limitations.
“While much has evolved over the last 365 days, three things have remained the same: first, it remains in our national interest to defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies and ensure that they will have no safe havens from which to attack the American people. Second, Pakistan continues to be engaged in a tough fight against a complex insurgency. Third, Pakistan is an essential partner to the United States both in the near and long-term and we must remain committed to building trust between our two nations.
“While all of these factors are important to informing our overall approach to Pakistan and how we resource that effort, I would like to focus on the security environment in Pakistan. It is my view that the traditional peace time framework for security assistance is inappropriate and no longer works. Despite Pakistan’s increased military operations, the scale, nature and frequency of violence in Pakistan makes it a nation more appropriately comparable to a combat zone, such as that found in Afghanistan, and should be treated as such, rather than a central European country seeking foreign military financing.
“That is why I supported the Administration’s original request for a new authority and funding stream which resembled our train and equip efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, Under Secretary Flournoy testified to this committee that the ‘PCCF will align authorities and funding to develop Pakistan’s capability in current counterinsurgency operations with DOD’s responsibility to implement the security portion of the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, including our own current operations.’ I agreed then and I agree now. Unfortunately, the next day, Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton thought differently and ignored their own strategy. In 2011, the PCCF authority will reside in the State Department.
“It remains to be seen how the State Department will manage the PCCF authority and if it has the right culture and capacity to adequately respond to the wartime needs in Pakistan.
“In my mind, I still question the rational to move PCCF to State when DOD has proven its ability to execute similar programs in Iraq and Afghanistan—authorities and funding streams which rightly remain in DOD. I also think it is also fair to question if Congress will appropriate this year’s money without strings attached and in a manner consistent with war-time contingencies, especially given last year’s H.R. 1886 which would have placed conditions and limits on the equipment we provide to our Pakistani partners.
“Mr. Chairman, I think our committee should continue to closely monitor the execution of PCCF and ensure the CENTCOM Commander, through the Office of the Defense Representative for Pakistan, maintains the speed and flexibility needed to take advantage of emerging and urgent opportunities with the Pakistan military. As I stated earlier, Pakistani security forces have increased their operational tempo and are improving their capacity to conduct counterinsurgency operations against insurgent networks on its side of the border—it is in both our nations’ strategic interests to see this momentum continue.
“However, as you all know, ‘clearing’ is only one phase of an effective counterinsurgency strategy. As we’ve learned in Iraq and Afghanistan, the “hold” and “build” phases are equally important. I would like our witnesses to comment on the recent notification to Congress to use Economic Support Funds to provide quick impact, small-scale assistance to benefit the local population. It seems to me that such funds, executed though DOD in coordination with the Chief of Mission and Pakistan are critical to building upon last year’s military gains.
“Lastly, I think Congress should also consider Coalition Support Funds (CSF) under this wartime paradigm. Let me be clear, it is our Congressional prerogative to conduct oversight and scrutinize funding, including CSF or any other funds in that matter. But we need to be careful that we seek to balance accountability with supporting Pakistan’s ability to adapt and respond to the fluid and dynamic security situation on the ground. I hope to hear from our witnesses today why the CSF is critical to Pakistan’s will and ability to conduct military operations and how we are working with the government of Pakistan to ensure that such reimbursing efforts directly support U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.
“Thank you for being here, I look forward to your testimony and a candid discussion.”
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