Obama seeks $0.5bn increase in military aid for Pakistan

* Funds to help improve counterinsurgency capabilities along border with Afghanistan

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration has sought a $0.5 billion increase in funds to be provided to Pakistan to bolster the counterinsurgency capabilities of the country’s security forces.

Under the $ 3.8 trillion budget proposed by President Barack Obama on Monday, the Department of State has sought “$4.0 billion in fiscal year 2011 for Afghanistan … and $3.1 billion for Pakistan … to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan by increasing assistance to both countries, providing funds for governance, reconstruction and other development activities that will counter extremists”, according to a White House document.

The ‘Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund’ would see an increase from the 2009 allocation of $ 700 million to $1.2 billion in the next fiscal year beginning on October 1. The figure includes the carried forward sum from the current year’s allocation. The money under the fund would be used to train and equip the Pakistan military to fight militants more effectively along the Afghan border.

The request for State Department operations says an increase in assistance for Pakistan and Afghanistan is intended to “revitalise economic development and confront the resurgence of the Taliban”.

“The 2011 budget increases US resources in support of the president’s strategy to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The budget increases assistance to both countries, providing additional funding for governance, reconstruction and other development activities that would counter extremists.

“For Pakistan, the budget also increases security assistance and funds a new signature energy project,” according to the White House document.

The president requested $1.322 billion – a proposed increase of $289 million – for Pakistan from the Economic Support Fund (ESF), a House Democratic aide who had seen detailed budget documents told Reuters. The administration also asked Congress to approve $296 million for Pakistan from a programme called Foreign Military Financing, said the House aide. agencies

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