The bill is expected to pass, though concerns may lead to a resolution criticising the conditions [AFP]

The US congress approved a bill tripling aid for Pakistan to $1.5bn a year for the next five years and sent it to President Barack Obama for signing into law last week

The legislation is part of an attempt to build a new relationship with Pakistan that focuses not solely on military ties, but also on Pakistan's social and economic development.

But in an effort to address Washington's concerns that Pakistan's military may support armed groups, the bill stipulates that US military aid will cease if Pakistan does not help fight "terrorists", including Taliban and al-Qaeda members taking sanctuary on the Afghan border.

The bill also 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 reference to nuclear scientist AQ Khan, the nuclear scientist, who allegedly ran a black market in atomic technology.

Pakistan has declined to let foreign investigators question Khan, saying it has passed on all information gleaned from him.

Aassessment rejected

The bill, co-authored by John Kerry and Richard Lugar, both senators, also provides for an assessment of how effective civilian government's control over the powerful military has been.

Opposition politicians have criticised President Asif Ali Zardari's government for allowing the humiliation of the country.

"The incompetence of the Zardari regime has brought humiliation for Pakistan," Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the main opposition party PML-N, said.

"Our party appreciates the spirit behind the initiative. However, it feels that any conditionality with such assistance must respect Pakistan's sovereignty and self-respect."

Plans by the US to expand its embassy in Pakistan have also raised suspicion, as has speculation about the embassy's use of private security contractors.

But Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Pakistani foreign minister, said in Washington that "there is no question of Pakistan's sovereignty being compromised" by the measure.

Parliament is not expected to reject the bill, but was likely to pass a resolution highlighting its concerns.

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