US Congress rejects pullout of troops from Pakistan

By Anwar Iqbal, Dawn.com, July 29, 2010

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The Congress overwhelmingly rejected a resolution demanding the withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan.—File photo by AP

The Congress overwhelmingly rejected a resolution demanding the withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan.—File photo by AP

WASHINGTON: The US Congress has overwhelmingly rejected a resolution demanding the withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan.

The measure, moved in the House of Representatives, was sponsored by two anti-war Republican congressmen — Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) and Ron Paul (Texas) — and was in reaction to reports that the US was running a secret war in Pakistan.

The lawmakers argued that any war effort not approved by Congress violated the War Powers Act. It was voted down 38-372. Thirty-two Democrats and six Republicans voted for the measure. Four congressmen voted “present”, three Democrats and one Republican.

The vote took place days after newspapers published leaked documents suggesting that Pakistani intelligence had cooperated with extremist groups while simultaneously accepting US aid to fight terror.

Congressmen Kucinich and Paul, however, used their floor time to criticise the war in Afghanistan.

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