Pakistan has long been a leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid despite contentious issues in the bilateral relationship. In May 2013, Pakistan conducted scheduled national elections to seat new National and Provincial Assemblies. The exercise was itself historic as an unprecedented transfer of power from one elected government to another. The right-leaning, conservative Pakistan Muslim League faction led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) won an unexpectedly strong victory that includes a simple majority in the National Assembly as well as continued control of Punjab, where the bulk of Pakistan's citizens reside. The incumbent Pakistan People's Party suffered a major defeat and is relegated to opposition status at the federal level, although it retained control of the Sindh government. The newly formidable Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) part—led by Imran Khan, a strident critic of Pakistan's cooperation with the United States—now heads a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In June, Sharif began his third non-consecutive term as Prime Minister. Although the elections were marked by violence and some reports of rigging, their conduct was welcomed by the U.S. and other international governments as an important step in Pakistan's democratization process. Analysts do not anticipate any major adjustments in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship in the near- or middle-term and Sharif's priorities—resolving Pakistan's energy crisis and reversing its economic decline—track well with the central goals of the U.S. assistance program. Following the May 2011 U.S. commando raid in Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden, already troubled U.S.-Pakistani relations soured, prompting the 112 th Congress to consider new restrictions on, or even elimination of, the billions of annual assistance dollars currently being provided. Since the raid, U.S.-Pakistani military cooperation has been disrupted and clouded by increased mutual distrust; Islamabad has significantly reduced the number of U.S. military trainers allowed in the country, and the Obama Administration indicated that deliveries of certain security-related financial transfers and other aid are under suspension. A November 2011 incident near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border left two dozen Pakistani soldiers dead after their posts came under fire from NATO forces; the event further disrupted relations. A significant shift in the Obama Administration's public statements on U.S. relations with Pakistan was suggested in September 2011 when Admiral Mike Mullen, the outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. In that hearing, both explicitly accused Pakistan's main intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of supporting Haqqani Network insurgents who engage in attacks on U.S. targets in Afghanistan. When asked by a committee member whether he supported a move in Congress to further condition U.S. aid to Pakistan, Secretary Panetta replied, "Anything that makes clear to them that we cannot tolerate their providing this kind of safe haven to the Haqqanis, and that they have to take action—any signal that we can send to them—I think would be important to do." Weeks later, however, President Barack Obama stated in a press conference, "We could not have been as successful as we have been without the cooperation of the Pakistan government. And so on a whole range of issues, they have been an effective partner with us," adding, "[W]e will constantly evaluate our relationship with Pakistan" in the context of U.S. interests. The Administration's scrutiny of the relationship has continued since, especially in light of increased congressional attention following the tumultuous events of 2011. Yet its fundamental support for a continued large-scale assistance program is unchanged. During an April 2013 House hearing on the Administration's FY2014 foreign affairs budget proposal, newly seated Secretary of State John Kerry was asked about ending all foreign assistance to Pakistan. His reply: "Cutting off aid to Pakistan would—would not be a good move, certainly at this point in time, for a lot of different reasons. We are working with Pakistan with respect to nuclear safety and nonproliferation. We are working with Pakistan to get our supplies both in and out of Afghanistan." At the same time that the Administration expressed serious displeasure with Pakistan, the United States responded in FY2011 and FY2012 with more than $110 million in humanitarian aid to a September 2011 disaster due to flooding there. Previously, the United States had provided about $600 million in disaster and refugee assistance for the widespread summer 2010 Pakistan floods. More recently, in September 2012 and February 2013, the Administration waived certification requirements to allow for continued transfers of major defense equipment. The latter waiver was taken as a signal that the bilateral security relationship was being substantively renewed after a nearly two-year-long period of estrangement. While numerous concerns exist about whether Pakistan can be accountable in how it uses U.S. aid and whether it is capable of being a reliable U.S. partner in combating terrorism, many experts believe that key U.S. strategic interests are inextricably linked with a stable Pakistan and region. They emphasize the importance of maintaining close bilateral engagement with Pakistan, including providing assistance, to promote stability and contribute to U.S. national security. Over past decades Congress has expressed concern with the U.S.-Pakistan relationship and has placed limitations and reporting requirements on U.S. aid to Pakistan in both authorization and appropriation laws. Following, in reverse chronological order, are laws passed by Congress that restrict aid and/or establish certain requirements for the release of such aid. H.R. 4310 was introduced March 29, 2012, and was passed by the full House on May 18, 2012. The bill was referred to the Senate, where it passed on December 21, 2012. The conference report ( H.Rept. 112-705 ) was filed on December 18, 2012. The President signed it into law on January 2, 2013. Section 1227 of the act extends authority of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) reimbursements for FY2013 and limits CSF reimbursements to Pakistan to $1.2 billion for that fiscal year. It prohibits CSF reimbursements for the period between November 2011-July 2012 when Pakistan had barred NATO from transiting along its Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs) linking Afghanistan with the Arabian Sea. FY2013 CSF reimbursements can only be made after the Secretary of Defense certifies that Pakistan is maintaining security along the GLOCs, is taking demonstrable steps against terrorism, and that it is countering the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Secretary may waive these certification requirements for U.S. national security reasons. This measure requires a report from the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, within 90 days of enactment, on the reimbursement process, the conditions regarding the GLOCs, and an estimate of transshipment costs for FY2011 through FY2013 supporting the forces in Afghanistan. Section 1228 extends the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund (PCF) through FY2013 and extends the limitation of funds until the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, certifies to certain congressional committees that the government of Pakistan is demonstrating efforts to counter IEDs, is cooperating on counterterrorism efforts, and is not detaining Pakistani citizens, including Dr. Shakil Afridi, as a result of their cooperation with the U.S. government on counterterrorism efforts. The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may waive these requirements if doing so is deemed to be in the U.S. national security interest. H.R. 1540 was introduced in the House on April 14, 2011. The House passed it on May 26. The bill was referred to the Senate on June 6, when it was referred to the Committee on Armed Services. The Senate passed it with an amendment on December 1, 2011. The conference report ( H.Rept. 112-329 ) was filed on December 12. The conference report was agreed to in the House on December 14 and in the Senate on December 15, 2011. The President signed it into law on December 31, 2011. Section 1220 of the bill stipulates that not more than 40% of FY2012 appropriated amounts for PCF may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, submits an annual report to the relevant defense committees in the House and Senate, and to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that includes a strategy to use PCF and the metrics used to determine progress on use of PCF, and a strategy to enhance Pakistani efforts to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). At a minimum, the report shall include (i) a discussion of U.S. strategic objectives in Pakistan; (ii) a list of terrorist organizations in Pakistan opposing U.S. goals in the region and against which the United States encourages Pakistan to take action; (iii) a discussion of the gaps in capabilities of Pakistan security units that hamper the ability of the government of Pakistan to take action against the organizations listed; (iv) a discussion of how assistance provided using PCF will address the gaps in capabilities; (v) a discussion of efforts undertaken by other U.S. government departments and agencies or other activities by the Department of Defense to address gaps in capabilities and how they all are coordinated with activities undertaken by PCF; (vi) a discussion of whether the government of Pakistan is demonstrating a commitment to countering IEDs; and (vii) metrics used to track progress of the government of Pakistan in listing terrorist organizations, address capability gaps, and counter IEDs.