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WASHINGTON: The Obama administration has asked the US Congress to provide more than $1 billion in civilian and military aid to Pakistan, including a six-fold increase in foreign military financing.
The budget proposal describes Pakistan as a “strategically important nation” and says that the proposed US assistance will strengthen its military in the fight against extremism, will increase safety of nuclear installations and will accelerate economic development.
Also read: US to continue help for Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts
It also says that continued US engagement with Pakistan will help bring stability to Afghanistan and will promote better relations between Islamabad and New Delhi.
The budgetary proposals, released on Monday afternoon after US President Barack Obama sent his 2016 budget to Congress, shows a more than six-fold increase in foreign military financing (FMF) to Pakistan from $42.2 million in 2014-15 to $265m in 2015-16.
Budget proposals envisage six-fold increase in foreign military financing for country
The FMF programme provides grants and loans to help countries purchase weapons and defence equipment produced in the United States as well as in acquiring defence services and military training.
The Obama administration also proposed $334.9m for economic support fund and $143.1m for counter-terrorism and non-proliferation efforts.
The US State Department noted that Pakistan was at the heart of the US counter-terrorism strategy, the peace process in Afghanistan, nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and economic integration in South and Central Asia.
It argued that the proposed increase in foreign military funding to Pakistan was essential to country’s efforts to increase stability in its western border region and ensure overall stability within its own borders.
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom told a briefing that while the budget proposals maintained “a robust investment in our Pakistan assistance”, overall there was a small reduction of about 10 per cent over the last year.
This reduction was “based on what we think the needs are and what we assess the capabilities are”, she said.
Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2015
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Comments (66) Closed
Feb 04, 2015 06:35am
What Pakistan needs is investment and trade. Not money to fight a war on behalf of a superpower.
The Americans give peanuts compared to the destruction and damage they have caused to Pakistan via the false war on terror. Pakistan has lost nearly 100 billion in the last decade due to the fighting in Afghanistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:47am
Good for pak army.
now they can very well eliminate all terrorists.
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Feb 04, 2015 07:03am
Obama is Pakistan's all weather friend...after all he spent wonderful time in Pakistan as a youngster and consider it as his home...India must be happy that Pakistan is also sharing with them piece of the pie...
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Feb 04, 2015 07:03am
Congratulations to Pakistan..
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Feb 04, 2015 07:06am
will the chinese (all weather friend) be able to match the same amount of charity for pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 07:13am
Obama should give us atleast 4 billion $. But he gives to India. Its unacceptable. We bear the burnt of terrorism than other. Especially foreign borne terrorism..
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Feb 04, 2015 07:19am
and yet we berate USA and think China is our best friend. All assistance comes from USA and has been coming for the last 40 years. How much aid have we received from China till date to help our balance of payments crisis?
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Feb 04, 2015 07:28am
Rather than giving alms, maybe US should encourage investment in Pakistan if it truly considers pakistan as a friend. These "aid" is going to directly in to certain top ranking officials bank accounts anyways.
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Feb 04, 2015 07:57am
If Pakistan gets paid billions for fighting war on terrorism why would it STOP terrorism, it is like killing a goose that lays golden eggs.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:00am
Chump change compared to sacrifices made by pakistan and giving up its strategic depth vis a vis India for US .
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Feb 04, 2015 08:00am
Can China match this .
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Feb 04, 2015 08:01am
Now who is better friend hussian obama or jingping.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:03am
Everybody wants Pakistan on its side US and China falling head over heels to please strategic ally Pakistan , Russia offering military equipment at low cost , India left at the mercy of vultures.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:04am
Party time...
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Feb 04, 2015 08:09am
As usual, take the money use it against India and protest against U.S blame U.S. for terrorism in Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:10am
Hope most of the money is used for what it's intended for and not go to politicians and terrorists! Pakistan has received $ 40 B to terrorism so far but looks they are yet to make a dent!
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Feb 04, 2015 08:11am
This will encourage Pakistan to continue supporting terrorists .... To stop terror activities, US needs to stop giving money to Pakistan
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Feb 04, 2015 08:14am
@Vikram
USA cares about USA. India says all relations with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally. You can't tell america to ignore kashmir then expect help for other issues.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:15am
Obama please stop this, let China to aid Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:21am
@Vikram US Prints its own currency so it can print how much it wants and world will grab it no need to balance gold for it , infact US has emptied all its gold and still printing currency at unimaginable amounts so it can dole out billions only costs it incurs is for paper and ink.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:25am
Golden days ahead for pakistan if it can get its act together with friends like US,China,Russia, Saudi Arabia etc what better can it hope for , India will be left licking its wounds.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:34am
@kiltin
Your knowledge is vast as that of the "analysts" I see on Pakistani TV...very commendable
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Feb 04, 2015 08:36am
$40 Billion U.S. Dollar so far and one more Billion on the horizon. Where does this all this money go? Is there an audit on how this is spent, especially the nonmilitary side of it. Because clearly not on generating electricity, clean water or cooking gas, not on modernizing schools or improving the lives of common men and women. Anyway, those skating tongues on their lips should wait a little longer. The Republic majority Congress will not approve Obama's budget and the Republicans themselves will produce their own budget which Obama will veto. So for the next two years no budget will be passed until a new Congress and President are elected in 2016. Until then I think some baseline counter terrorism aid that has been previously agreed will be given to Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:50am
Pakistan should start standing up on its own feet and reject aid that come with strings attached.
We just cannot be living like this.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:53am
That means terrorism would never be end in Pakistan B'coz Pak Army would continuous take Dollar form US in name of "War on Terror". and would never end this game and would take money every year Continuously. Pak would not want to stop this Money supply. Mark my word.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:55am
To add another point, In fact everything (including aid to Pakistan) are purposefully over budgeted, in case the Democratic President and the Republican Congress agree to negotiations. So it is not surprising that Obama would want to over budget the line items of his interest, because everything will be cut to a size in negotiations.So he cannot start the negotiations with the amount that he actually wants but put in a much higher bid. I think Pakistan should keep an eye on the Republican budget too, because it will indicate their interest levels in giving aid to the country.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:55am
Will China, your best friend, ever give Pakistan $1 billion?
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Feb 04, 2015 09:05am
Now the question is who is our better Alley US or China?? This is a bit hard to figure out
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Feb 04, 2015 09:07am
@noone
we should slowly end our reliance on foreign aid
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Feb 04, 2015 09:19am
@Uxman China for emotional support and US for financial assistance both countries are like two eyes of pakistan both are necessary for pakistan to see the world.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:43am
I would rather live in a country that stands with dignity and self respect rather than depending upon foreign alms. Had it been investment, it was fine because the investor also gains from it. Blaming the US for all terrorism and taking money from the US at the same time is sheer double standards. The previous money accepted were gulped down in corruption and sponsoring terrorism. Hope Pakistani politicians stay true to the salt and use it to eliminate terrorism this time. Pakistan needs to be in a position to grow, be self-sufficient and prosperous and for that it is not about how much money we have but how we spend it.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:50am
This is actually CSF(coalition support fund). Google search 'Pakistan GDP', in purchasing power parity, it is equal to 845 billion USD, In nominal terms it is somewhere around 245 billion USD. There is a huge undocumented or informal economy and if you take into account those businesses, which are not registered and doesn't pay any taxes, the actual figure is much higher.
The government needs aid...people don't.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:51am
@janus india and pak got independence at same time and look where your country is ... cant live without aid from other countries, its high time pak leaders wake up from dreaming about kashmir issue and clean their country..
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Feb 04, 2015 10:17am
When Obama visited India, All comments were"Pakistan don't need US aid" now that US ok billion dollars all comments are like " US, Obama are friend of Pakistan and please give more aid or china should match US aid"
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Feb 04, 2015 10:19am
It is yet to be passed by the Republican majority Congress, and it will be rejected, as many Democrats started to dislike Obama, waiting for his term to complete.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:20am
@islooboy we have waged for usa and other countries . so its not aid its compensation. We sacrificed lot than others.. We are the leading country to fight against terrorism.. We done what UN not done..
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Feb 04, 2015 10:31am
People here are wondering, who is Pakistan's real friend, USA or China. Answer is simple, China is real friend. USA is has been 'assisting' Pakistan for a long. Money giver and receiver dont have friendship relationship.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:53am
Point to ponder, US with its ally Suadi Arabia has destabilized Middle East and Arabian peninsula completely. Now US is playing the same game in South Asia with more than willing Pakistan. India has to be very careful because what US is doing with Pakistan same game is being played with India for Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Like everywhere the price is paid by the local people not the US citizens. War is money making game for USA.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:00am
2015 would turn-out better, we will have best of both worlds; US financial support and China's moral support. Anything more would be bonus...
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Feb 04, 2015 11:03am
@noone Dear Brother/ Sister - Your comment sounds like you are asking reimbursement for the blood (read life) of your own countrymen. Please do not accept this money, this has stain of blood on it. Detach yourself from this aid, after all what is one billion. Your country can make more than that in a day only if all of you have resolve. Why are you fighting their war??? US policy makers think that they can use other countries to fulfill their agenda, prove them wrong.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:08am
@Akhtar "Pakistan has lost nearly 100 billion in the last decade due to the fighting in Afghanistan."
What a joke!!!
100 Billions can not the be the sum of 10yrs GDP of Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:18am
I think Pakistan should stop hating US... After all they are the ones who provide...
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Feb 04, 2015 11:21am
Pakistan needs trade not the aid. World's major countries are trying to build up trade based relations but we are still recieving the alms.. When we will be self-sufficient??
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Feb 04, 2015 11:43am
Mr Obama-you want peace and integration in South Asia, then assist in resolving Kashmir, otherwise forget it. India will create problems and Pakistan will counter it and the game will never end. These funds are for costs in military campaign.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:44am
@bk something seems to be hurting you, maybe its the word 'China and Pakistan'!!!!!
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Feb 04, 2015 11:45am
@Akhtar " Pakistan has lost nearly 100 billion in the last decade due to the fighting in Afghanistan."
Yes lost nearlyv100 billion Liras and Pakistan should be compensated for it.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:46am
@mirGhaffar Dude, trade will happen only if there is a conducive environment for the same..
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Feb 04, 2015 12:10pm
Let Indians shout on the top of their voice. If US want to give one billion or more, she will give and Indians should not object as it is not their money.
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Feb 04, 2015 12:25pm
@noone please search the dictionary to find the meaning of Aid and Investment.
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Feb 04, 2015 12:29pm
Thank you, USA. Pak deserves generous political, economic and military assistance from US to eradicate domestic terror and stabilize economy. But Pak leadership should become serious enough in making Pak a good country for the coming generations.
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Feb 04, 2015 12:32pm
@JET LEE In this information age you are so delusional. Just Google search 'Pakistan GDP'. it is 245 billion USD in nominal term and 840 billion USD in purchasing power parity, per year.
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Feb 04, 2015 12:40pm
Not single example, that aid developed countries. We want America to invest in Pakistan. To finish unemployment etc
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Feb 04, 2015 12:57pm
@noone get ur facts rights dude,,,,Obama didnt even give $1 to India as aid,,the $4 biln ur talking about is a credit limit to US companies for the participation in renewable energy in India
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Feb 04, 2015 01:03pm
Who is happy in Pakistan getting money from US?
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Feb 04, 2015 01:07pm
@zak
Hello Zak, there you are !!
I was wondering why the 'K" word didn't pop up in this thread...and lo here it is. Appreciate your consistency of being so tunnel visioned :-)
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Feb 04, 2015 01:08pm
Need business not loan.
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Feb 04, 2015 01:09pm
Wow, what a BUSINESS MODEL. Create demand for weapons, provide weapons, give money to purchase weapons and get interest on that money.
BRAVO.
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Feb 04, 2015 01:20pm
This aid takes Pakistan away from achievement of self reliance. Mazoor bana rahe hain Pakistan ko and I fail to understand why Pakistanis feel happy about it and expect China to match it... Hats off to you guys!!!
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Feb 04, 2015 01:23pm
@Dr K : We are not
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Feb 04, 2015 01:24pm
The fake and false War on Terror is not China's but US's war for which it is using its foot soldier Pakistan to bear the blame and losses. Moreover, the aid is a motivation for Pakistan to continue its status quo !
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Feb 04, 2015 01:34pm
@prakash, Why so much jeoulousy. US gave you 4 billions credit.
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Feb 04, 2015 02:00pm
US friendship has given Pakistan more troubles than relief . After every US war Pakistan become more vulnerable for attacks. Our security challenges are doubled before this war started.
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Feb 04, 2015 02:31pm
@satish, Everyone is happy in Paksistan. You also got 4billions credit line. Weren't you all Indians happy?
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Feb 04, 2015 04:24pm
in return a long list of demands.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:25pm
in return a long list of demands.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:14pm
@tehran What strategic depth? You mean like Peshawar? And the attack on Navy base and GHQ? it is shameful that a foreign power has to pay Pakistan alms for helping itself. Your commitment to the flawed thinking on Strategic Depth means Pakistan cannot even host an international cricket match on its soil. But instead of hanging your heads in shame you keep talking about "strategic depth" and beg for charity. It appears there is no self respect or shame left in Pakistan.
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