Amid concerns in Pakistan over the strings attached to US aid, the Obama administration has asserted that no condition has been imposed on Pakistan for the USD2.3 bn Defence Authorisation Bill, and charged that an attempt is on to "willfully distort" the facts.

The USD2.3 bn aid to Pakistan is part of USD680 bn 2010 Defense Authorisation Bill, which was passed by the Senate yesterday and the House of Representatives early this month.

The bill also imposes tough conditions on Pakistan against diverting US military aid to confront India, which has not gone down well in Pakistan.

Washington wants Islamabad to use the aid to fight Taliban and al Qaeda.

Richard Holbrooke, US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said the 2010 Defence Authorisation Bill requires only reporting by the executive branch—the Obama Administration—on progress toward long-term security and stability in Pakistan.

Addressing a crowded press conference yesterday, Holbrooke said, "there are no conditions on Pakistan. There are reporting requirements. And there's been a total and, I believe, willful distortion of this among some people in Pakistan."

"Well, then, let me tell you, there are no conditions in this bill. There are no conditions. I don't want to get into legalisms here, but there are requirements on us," he said in reply to a query.

The bill includes the amendments by Menendez and senator Bob Corker, according to which the US is required to give a determination that the payment is in US national interest, and it will not affect the balance of power in the region.

The bill provides for a military assistance of USD2.3 bn to Pakistan in one year, in addition to the USD1.5 bn non-military aid per annum for the next five years as approved by the Kerry-Lugar Bill, which was signed into law by US president Barack Obama early this month.

India feels that the American assistance to Pakistan should be more focussed on building counter-insurgency capabilities rather than conventional defence equipment which can be diverted for other purposes.

It also wants US to seek greater accountability from Islamabad in terms of how the defence assistance is used.

"The Congress wants the secretary of Defence, in the case of this bill (Defence Authorisation) and the secretary of State, in the case of Kerry-Lugar-Berman, to report to them on certain issues before and during the process of releasing the funds," Holbrooke said.

He even termed the bill as "pro-Pakistan".

"So this is a pro-Pakistan bill. And I pray that your colleagues in Islamabad report it accurately so we don't have another misunderstanding," Holbrooke said.

He was responding to a question by a Pakistani journalist whether the Defence Authorisation Bill imposes conditions on Pakistan, despite the fact that the Army is running successful military operation against Taliban in Waziristan and other tribal regions of the country.