US Senate votes to triple aid to Pakistan

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US approves 2.376 billion dollar aid package for Pakistan

US approves 2.376 billion dollar aid package for Pakistan

Washington, Sep.22 (ANI): The United States has approved 2.376 billion dollars as aid for Pakistan.

The US government has also tabled an aid bill of 2.282 billion dollars in the Congress for Pakistan for the financial year 2009-10.

The bill placed in the American Congress includes both military and humanitarian assistance, The News reports.

It is worth mentioning here that the US has pledged 1.5 billion dollars of annual assistance to Pakistan for five years through the Kerry-Lugar bill.

The Kerry Lugar bill is likely to be approved by the American Senate by the end of this month.

While Islamabad has been pushing Washington to fulfill its pledge as soon as possible and reduce the administrative cost on the aid being offered, the US maintains that most of the financial assistance included in the bill would be channelled through government institutions and mechanisms. (ANI)

US approves 2.376 billion dollar aid package for Pakistan - Yahoo! India News
 

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US SENATE APPROVES non-military aid to Pakistan to about $1.5 billion

WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Thursday approved compromise legislation to triple non-military aid to Pakistan to about $1.5 billion a year
:noo1:
for each of the next five years as part of a plan to fight extremism with economic development.


The bill, approved on a voice vote, had been agreed upon between the Senate and House sponsors of legislation passed separately by each chamber earlier this year. The sponsors are Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar and Representative Howard Berman.
The measure also had the ‘full support’ of key members of the Obama administration, Senate aides said. It was expected to come before the House of Representatives soon.
The aid, which will have to be approved by congressional appropriators each year from 2010 to 2014, is aimed at a wide range of development efforts, from funding Pakistani schools to the judicial system and law enforcement agencies.
While not stipulating any dollar amounts of military aid, the legislation sets out conditions for the assistance. They include Pakistan’s cooperation with dismantling nuclear supplier networks and with combating terrorist groups, a Senate summary of the bill said.
Another condition is to require that the security forces of Pakistan do not subvert judicial processes, the summary said.
The aim of the legislation is to promote stability in a country that is fighting against Islamic militancy and has been key to the US war in neighboring Afghanistan. Many al Qaeda and Taliban members fled to Northwestern Pakistan after US-led soldiers ousted Afghanistan’s Taliban government in 2001.
The United States and Afghanistan have pressed Pakistan to eliminate the militants’ sanctuaries, and the United States has carried out air strikes on the sanctuaries by pilotless drones that are deeply unpopular in Pakistan.
The Senate action came as key donors to Pakistan were meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at a ‘Friends of Pakistan’ meeting in New York.

Pakistan News PakTribune.Com
 

vijaytripoli

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I would have definately given you -1 for this news u post , if there was a option availiable for that!

Chau
 

Rajan

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US Senate votes to triple aid to Pakistan

America's intention is very much clear. It wants India to counter China and Pakistan to counter India and Afghanistan to counter Pakistan.

US was well aware that billions of doller Pakistan got as 'non-military aid' was used by Pakistan to strength it's military against India. They are doing the same thing again and again. When our Babus will learn??? :sad:
 

RPK

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BBC NEWS | South Asia | Donors agree fund for Pakistan

The Pakistani government and the World Bank have announced a fund designed to restore the country's infrastructure.

Money collected in the trust will go towards war-hit areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the tribal areas and parts of Balochistan.

The Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF )fund was agreed during a Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting in the US.

The meeting was attended by US President Barack Obama and the leaders of more than 12 nations.

'Security improving'

"The violent extremists within Pakistan pose a threat to the region, to the United States, and to the world, " President Obama told the representatives of more than 20 countries and five international organizations who came together for the talks.

"Just as we will help Pakistan strengthen the capacity that it needs to root out violent extremists, we are also committed to working with all of you to help Pakistan improve the basic services that its people depend upon: schools, roads, and hospitals," he said in a prepared text of his remarks.

A key role of the fund will be to oversee reconstruction and peace building, following on from a donors meeting in April in which $5bn was pledged in aid to Pakistan.

"Today, three months after the military campaign in the Swat Valley began, security is improving and schools have reopened in most places," World Bank Group President Robert B Zoellick said after the MDTF was agreed.

"It is critical now to reach the millions of people touched by this massive disruption with quick and effective assistance.

British PM Gordon Brown said that the new trust fund "will come up with sustained financial support for Pakistan's economic development and prosperity".

Mr Brown appeared jointly with President Zardari at the conclusion of Friends of Democratic Pakistan summit and announced $74m in British economic aid for development of tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
 

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India protests as US Senate votes to triple aid to Pakistan


WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: The US Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to triple non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion per annum till 2014,
triggering fresh concerns for India, which warned that such funds have been diverted to support hostile operations against states and needs to be monitored.

The announcement to the tripling of annual aid from $50 million to $1.5 billion was made by President Barack Obama during his address to a meeting of the 'Friends of Democratic Pakistan' at the UN headquarters in New York, attended by a grouping of 26 countries and international organisations.

Obama's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, called the unanimous vote on Kerry-Luger Bill "a very important step forward" for US-Pakistan ties.

"For the first time in modern era the US congress has made a multi-year commitment to Pakistan," he said.

The Senate's unanimous approval set the stage for action in the House of Representatives, where the measure was introduced hours later for a final vote. It will then be sent to Obama to sign it into law.

Reacting to the Senate's passage of the bill, foreign minister S M Krishna said in New York that India was concerned about it as Islamabad had in the past diverted American aid to bolster its defences against India.

"Consider the statement that has been issued by the former president of Pakistan Musharraf himself where he has said that the aid provided to Pakistan by the US has been used for directing its hostile operations against India," Krishna, who is participating in the opening session of United Nation General Assembly, said.

"It is that statement of President Musharraf that really bothers us," he said, ahead of his meeting with his counterpart Hillary Clinton.

"With respect to the aid that was given to Pakistan we have brought the attention of the government of the United States that India's concern is only that aid has to be appropriated for the purpose for which it is provided by the United States," Krishna said, urging the US to monitor the use of the aid by Pakistan.

In its early drafts, the bill had a condition that Pakistan would not be a base for terrorist attacks against India, but now it has been replaced with a clause on cooperation with Pakistan's neighbours on war against terror.

India protests as US Senate votes to triple aid to Pakistan - India - NEWS - The Times of India
 

Vikramaditya

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Pakistan is really talented in this field...........

Already US has tripled his aid,And now Pakistan new weapon "FoDP"..........
just simple question,they don't feel shy?????????????

There are so many country is poor,but they are working hard instead of going for $Bn aid......
 
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This is non military aid don't forget they also get military aid both which are used for the same purpose against India.
 

p2prada

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Mynnnnaahhhh, I am not worried. They can invest all the money in whatever they want. If we can bring reforms into our own security, there is nothing Pak can do to hurt us anymore.
 

ab041937

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Every penny paid by US only leads to increasing further pressure on Pakistan. If US is still paying huge sums of money to Pak then I believe that Pak is atleast doing something right or something that US wants at the moment. US objective for Pakistan look particularly clear.

1) Deny any breathing space to Radical Islam - This would require either eliminating or moderation(by using money or split in the ranks) of Taliban/Al Qaeda. These elements have sanctuary in Pakistan and to eliminate it, it needs either US soldiers on Pak soil, or Pak doing the bidding for US, or being allowed to maintain a private security(read Blackwater) in Pakistan that can carry out clandestine missions. It is now Pak's choice of what it would allow in return for US money.

2) Break the political clout of Army/ISI - Remember last years lawyers movement!!! I wouldn't be surprised if a huge part of US money went into financing the lawyers movement. Post 1971, Pak armed forces have never been so unpopular in domestic political circles. The most important thing to happen in last years lawyers revolution is that the judiciary in Pak has become free. Now, it has a chance to develop as a strong institution. Similarly, US wants to see other strong and independent institutions standing parallel to armed forces especially the democracy. This would disallow army to carry out any further coups. Once the armed forces have been cut to size they can be brought under civilian control along with ISI. That would break the ISI-Terrorist nexus.

So, lets just relax and watch the things unfold!!!
 

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Pakistan pushed to its limits
By Syed Saleem Shahzad in AsiaTimes,Singapore ( Asia Times Online :: Asian news hub providing the latest news and analysis from Asia)

NEW YORK - United States President Barack Obama, co-chairing with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown the first summit meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, on Thursday announced that the US Senate had unanimously passed the Kerry-Lugar bill, authorizing US$1.5 billion in economic assistance for Pakistan annually over five years.

This amount, which is triple what Pakistan has been receiving, in addition to the several billions of dollars Pakistan receives annually in other military and non-military aid.

In response, it appears that Pakistan's political leaders have consented to military operations against militants and al-Qaeda in the North Waziristan and South Waziristan tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan.

Although the military has recently conducted successful operations in other trouble spots in the tribal areas, such as Swat, Islamabad has been reluctant to commit fully to engagement in the Waziristans, where the Pakistan Taliban and their al-Qaeda allies have a strong foothold and from where militants fuel the insurgency in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmud Qureshi, flanked by Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Britain's special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, gave a briefing after the summit meeting.

He said the gathering, which included 26 countries and international organizations, had unanimously declared military operations against the Taliban in the Malakand area a success, adding that Pakistan would follow a similar model in the tribal areas - a clear hint that the government had agreed to send armed forces into the Waziristans.

While Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is ostensibly in New York for the United Nations General Assembly gathering, on the sidelines and in other interaction he has been well feted by the Obama administration as the person who can best further US interests in Pakistan and Afghanistan - as much as Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani does and former president General Pervez Musharraf did.

Zardari will also be pleased with the Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting, at which members acknowledged Pakistan's economic difficulties and institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank vowed to immediately undertake water and energy related projects for the country.

"If you go through the history of US aid, you would not find a parallel of such an aid package as the Kerry-Lugar bill," Holbrooke said, saying it was "a very important step forward". The bill points to Pakistan as a critical friend and ally and notes the profound sacrifices it has made in the "war on terror". The money provided by the bill will be used to fund a wide range of development projects, from schools and infrastructure to the judicial system.

The language of the version that was approved in the senate - it is now to go before the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives where it is expected to pass easily - was less stringent than the original. Specific references to India as well as to Abdul Qadeer Khan, the disgraced "father" of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, were eliminated.

The earlier version had wanted to make Pakistan give access to Khan and other scientists involved in nuclear proliferation. It also had urged Pakistan to coordinate its activities against terrorism with India. In the revised version, it only wants Pakistan to liaise with neighboring countries.

Earlier, General Stanley McChrystal, the top US military commander for Afghanistan, said in a report that India's political and economic influence was increasing in Afghanistan, including significant development efforts and financial investment.

The report said the Afghan government was perceived by Islamabad to be pro-Indian. "While Indian activities largely benefit the Afghan people, increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani counter-measures in Afghanistan or India," said the report.

The bill also contains a waiver for every condition that is imposed on Pakistan, but now this can be granted by the secretary of state, not the president as earlier proposed. None of the conditions can set in motion automatic sanctions.

The bill underlines the importance of supporting Pakistan's national security needs in its ongoing counter-insurgency battle and in improving its border security, while requiring the government to demonstrate a sustained effort to combat extremist groups and show progress towards defeating them.

Foreign Minister Qureshi told Asia Times Online that a detailed package for the capacity enhancement of the Pakistani armed forces had been agreed on. However, he clarified that it only involved modern counter-insurgency equipment and training programs.

Pakistan has got what it wanted. The onus now rests with Zardari to deliver. This will be the most difficult and dangerous part, to take on the Taliban and al-Qaeda inside Pakistan in a struggle in which there are no guarantees of success.

Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He can be reached at [email protected]
 

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BBC NEWS | South Asia | Donors agree fund for Pakistan

The Pakistani government and the World Bank have announced a fund designed to restore the country's infrastructure.

Money collected in the trust will go towards war-hit areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the tribal areas and parts of Balochistan.

The Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF )fund was agreed during a Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting in the US.

The meeting was attended by US President Barack Obama and the leaders of more than 12 nations.

'Security improving'

"The violent extremists within Pakistan pose a threat to the region, to the United States, and to the world, " President Obama told the representatives of more than 20 countries and five international organizations who came together for the talks.

"Just as we will help Pakistan strengthen the capacity that it needs to root out violent extremists, we are also committed to working with all of you to help Pakistan improve the basic services that its people depend upon: schools, roads, and hospitals," he said in a prepared text of his remarks.

A key role of the fund will be to oversee reconstruction and peace building, following on from a donors meeting in April in which $5bn was pledged in aid to Pakistan.

"Today, three months after the military campaign in the Swat Valley began, security is improving and schools have reopened in most places," World Bank Group President Robert B Zoellick said after the MDTF was agreed.

"It is critical now to reach the millions of people touched by this massive disruption with quick and effective assistance.

British PM Gordon Brown said that the new trust fund "will come up with sustained financial support for Pakistan's economic development and prosperity".

Mr Brown appeared jointly with President Zardari at the conclusion of Friends of Democratic Pakistan summit and announced $74m in British economic aid for development of tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Actually the dont want to down the terrorism. This is a good way for NATO countries to spread all over the world. They are using terrorism as a strategic and diplomatic weapon.
 

Rajan

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This is non military aid don't forget they also get military aid both which are used for the same purpose against India.
They want India to be under pressure and if they dont supply weapons and money pakistan will loose every option against India.

Pakistan is always a good beggar. For last 62 years it has contributed to the world only two things. First terrorism and Second different ways of begging like FoDP aid, military aid, non-military aid, war on terror aid etc etc.
 

qsaark

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This is non military aid don't forget they also get military aid both which are used for the same purpose against India.
So what you are suggesting, the Pakistan should disband its military and put herself under the able 'protection' of India? With all its shortcomings and what not, Pakistan is still a sovereign country or at least a country. It has all the right to have a credible conventional and non-conventional deterrent against her adversaries. Besides, no matter what, Pakistan will never be able to compete with India neither in numbers nor in quality of men and equipment respectively. Whatever Pakistan has is for defensive purposes, whereas India is fully capable to go for an offensive if needed. Pakistan’s defense spending is absolutely insignificant when compared with that of India. Hence I fail to understand about all this hue and cry over the issue of Kerry Lugar Bill which in reality will benefit your friends, the USA and Karzai regime more than Pakistan.

I have always said that Pakistan must invest more in social sector as that is the only way to move forward. I have repeatedly said that Pakistan needs a radical change in its relations with its neighbors especially India, however such radical changes take time and do not happen over night. A constant outcry on insignificant things has more potential to cause harm than doing any good.

Even a person with my mindset would get alarmed from your statement as to what exactly is the big deal.
 
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I am not suggesting anything of that sort, I am only questioning the lack of transparency in the aid being given, I have no issues with the amounts pakistan gets . But for USA to give the aid without any checks and balance system is hypocrisy. I would like to see the money get to the people like it was intended but I have my doubts most of this money will go the ruling military elite. In short USA is fueling an arms race under the guise of aid. Much of this money is probably to diminish chinese influence but nothing will be clear on this aid with the lack of transparency. A good example of this hypocrisy is look at the amounts given to pakistan during the crisis in NWFP when the army went in,and look at the amounts given now.
 

RPK

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Pak For Min in Washington to seek more aid

Washington, Oct 6 (PTI) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived here today on a three-day visit, during which he is scheduled to meet the top officials of the Obama Administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and discuss issues including seeking more aid.

Besides, Clinton, Qureshi is also scheduled to meet Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke and appraise them about the situation in the country, the fight against terrorism and discuss bilateral issues including seeking more aid from the United States.

Qureshi is also scheduled to address the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) ? a Washington-based think tank ? and meet a number of US lawmakers.

Qureshi, who last weekend, met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is also expected to brief the Obama Administration the progress made towards restoring the peace talks between the two countries.
 

RPK

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Obama admin to ensure aid to Pakistan not diverted

Washington, Oct 6 (PTI) Acknowledging that its massive aid to Pakistan over the years could have been diverted, the Obama administration today said it would make sure that future assistance reached the intended target.

The assurance held out by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs comes as the US Congress has just cleared a whopping USD 7.5 billion aid to Pakistan in next five years with lawmakers cautioning that Islamabad had a record of diverting and siphoning off aid.

While not commenting directly on reports that between 2002 and 2008, a major portion of whopping USD 6 billion given as aid to Pakistan had not reached its intended target, Gibbs said, "I don't think it's any wonder that our efforts in aiding the Pakistan army were not altogether very successful, and now we know why.
 

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Massive US aid package sparks criticism in Pakistan

Pakistan's parliament on Wednesday debated a $7.5 billion US aid bill as criticism mounted that money aimed at helping the nation battle Islamist extremism came with too many strings attached.

US Congress last week voted to triple aid to Pakistan over the next five years, with funds earmarked for building schools, roads and democratic institutions -- measures aimed at stemming a growing Taliban insurgency.

But critics in opposition and the military say the bill places too many conditions on the aid, including an attempt to curtail the nation's nuclear programme and putting too much pressure on Pakistan alone to battle militants.

"The bill has put Pakistan and its people in the dock," said Mushahid Hussain, secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the political party aligned with the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

The bill, he said in a statement, accused Pakistan "of all sins under the sun including cross-border terrorism and nuclear proliferation."

A spokesman for the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-N, said they hoped that the controversies would be addressed in the parliamentary debate, with potential amendments then put to the United States.

"There is a very strong and general impression in Pakistan that the Kerry-Lugar Bill is detrimental to Pakistan's interests and sovereignty," said Siddiqul Farooq, a spokesman for the party led by ex-premier Nawaz Sharif.

A meeting of senior military commanders presided over by army chief General Ashfaq Kayani raised "serious concern" about the bill.

"The forum expressed serious concern regarding clauses impacting on national security," the military said in a statement. "Formal input is being provided to the government," it added without elaborating.

US President Barack Obama has put Pakistan at the centre of his policy to battle Islamist extremists, many of whom are hiding out in Pakistan's border regions and slipping into Afghanistan to attack foreign troops there.

However, he had to tread carefully with the new aid bill after widespread criticism of the previous Bush administration for piling billions of dollars into Pakistan's military under Musharraf, with little accountability.

The new bill prevents the funding from being used to support extremists or to attack neighbouring countries -- namely arch-rival India -- and calls for a cut-off in assistance if Pakistan fails to crack down on extremists.

Columnist and analyst Nasim Zehra said the bill laid out in "intrusive details" how Pakistani security forces were meant to battle insurgents.

"The bill essentially declares Pakistan the hub of terrorism that has hit the entire region and puts the onus of fighting terrorism on Pakistan," she wrote in a column in English-language daily The News.

She also criticised a stipulation in the bill which says that Pakistan must give the US access to citizens associated with nuclear supply networks.

The ruling Pakistan People's Party defended the package.

"The bill acknowledges Pakistan as a critical friend and ally and also the profound sacrifices it has made in the war on terror," Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for President Asif Ali Zardari, said in a statement.

At a meeting on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi insisted the US government has "no intentions of micromanaging Pakistan."

Massive US aid package sparks criticism in Pakistan- Hindustan Times
 

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