Congressman Urges U.S. Withdraw Aid to Pakistan Until She Removes Troops from Jordan

Rep. Seymour Halpern, Republican of New York, threatened yesterday that unless Pakistan withdrew support of Jordanian troops, he would “offer an amendment to the next appropriations bill before this Congress to withhold further (U.S. foreign aid) from Pakistan.” In his speech to the House, Rep. Halpern declared, “It is my understanding that Pakistani troops, equipped with anti-aircraft devices and automatic weapons, are being developed in Jordan to shoot down the Phantom jets provided to Israel by the U.S.” Halpern called Pakistan’s entry into the fray “a dangerous new element to the crisis.” He said he did not think the U.S. should support a government that works with pro-Communist forces against the American interests in the Middle East. “The time has come,” Rep. Halpern said, “for our government to serve notice on Pakistan that her entrance into the Arab-Israeli hostilities will not be tolerated by the United States. We should consider the immediate suspension of aid already authorized if Pakistan is not immediately responsive.” He said he was also concerned about Pakistan’s relationship with Communist China because of that country’s desire to cause an American-Soviet confrontation on the Middle East.