US approves 300 million dollar anti-terror aid for Pakistan
PakistanPal
Washington, Mar.26 : U.S. President George Bush has sanctioned
millions of dollars as aid to Pakistan to continue its fight against
terrorism, as Pakistan's new prime minister, Makhdoom Yousuf Raza
Gillani, takes charge of the administration in Islamabad.
Bush asked the U-S Congress to release 300 million dollars for
security assistance, but White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe
revealed that Washington still had concerns about the human rights
situation in Pakistan.
During the past seven years, the US has given Pakistan around 7.74
billion dollars in the form of security-related assistance under
different heads, like Anti-Terrorism, International Narcotics Control
and Law Enforcement, Frontier Corps training and equipment, Non-
proliferation, Global Training and Equipment, non-proliferation, etc.
Besides this, an amount to the tune of 4.53 billion dollars went
towards Pakistan's economic support, said Alan Kronstadt of the
Congressional Research Service.
According to him, the bulk of the military-related assistance went to
Coalition Support Funds (around 5.56 billion dollars), followed by
Foreign Military Financing (1.57 billion dollars).
Besides 267 million dollars were contributed towards International
Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, including border security,
while monetary aid under the head Counter-narcotics Funds amounted to
131 million dollars, reported the Daily Times.
Sevennty-five million dollars were given for purchasing Frontier Corps
training and equipment, and 53 million dollars for buying Global
Training and Equipment.
According to the paper, the Exim Bank accounts for about 75 percent of
this amount, while the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
accounts for the other 25 percent.
