Economy & aidThe sanctions years
The Brown Amendment eases the Pressler sanctions
By a narrow vote, the Senate agreed to release military equipment Pakistan had ordered before 1990 - but not the F-16s - in the first loosening of the Pressler regime.
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Senate Amendment
The Brown Amendment
Adopted 55–45
Senator Hank Brown
Senate Amendment
The Brown Amendment
Adopted 55–45
Senator Hank Brown
Background
After President Clinton told Benazir Bhutto in April 1995 that it was unfair to keep both Pakistan’s money and its equipment, the administration sought congressional relief from the Pressler Amendment. Senator Hank Brown of Colorado, a Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee, took up the cause1.
What happened
The Senate adopted Brown’s amendment on 21 September 1995 by 55 votes to 45 after an extended debate1,2. As enacted in section 559 of the foreign operations appropriations act for fiscal year 1996, it ‘clarified’ the Pressler restrictions so that they applied to military assistance and transfers, allowing some economic assistance and other cooperation to resume1. It authorised a one-time release of about $368 million worth of military equipment that Pakistan had ordered and paid for before 1 October 1990, while specifically barring delivery of the 28 F-16s; instead, the United States would try to sell the aircraft to a third country and pass the proceeds to Pakistan1,3. President Clinton signed the legislation on 12 February 19961.
Perspectives
Supporters argued that the change restored fairness and some US influence in Islamabad without rewarding nuclear proliferation3. Opponents, led by Senator Pressler himself, said it undermined nonproliferation policy and sent the wrong signal to Pakistan2. India protested that the equipment would strengthen Pakistan’s military; in Pakistan the amendment was welcomed as a step forward, but the continued denial of the F-16s kept the grievance alive3,4.
Why it mattered
The Brown Amendment was the first significant relaxation of the Pressler sanctions and showed that Congress was willing to distinguish between military and economic engagement. Its F-16 provisions failed in practice - no buyer was found - leaving the aircraft dispute to be settled by the Clinton administration in 19985.
Sources
- Pakistan aid restrictions and the Brown Amendment (CRS report 90-149, as reproduced), Congressional Research Service via GlobalSecurity.org, 1996 · Official
- Congressional Record, Senate, vol. 141, p. S14707 (1995), US Government Publishing Office (govinfo), September 1995 · Primary document
- Pragmatism Wins Out In Pakistan Arms Deal, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 October 1995 · Press
- Congressional Record, Senate, 12 June 1996: Pakistan, Congressional Record via irp.fas.org, 12 June 1996 · Primary document
- U.S. to Repay Pakistan for Undelivered F-16s, Arms Control Association (Arms Control Today), 1998 · Press
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