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WASHINGTON: The United States government has and will continue to seek funds for reimbursing Pakistan for its counter-terrorism efforts, says a senior US official.
The official — who cannot be identified under briefing rules — explained that the Coalition Support Fund was “a demonstration of America’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorist threats throughout the country”.
Know more: CSF may not be possible beyond 2015: US
The US administration has delivered over $13 billion in CSF to Pakistan since 2002, and Pakistan is one of the largest recipients of US Foreign Military Financing globally, he said.
“We have and will continue to request additional operational reimbursements for Pakistan as it conducts its counter-terrorism efforts,” said the official. He said that the US administration had requested $1 billion for Pakistan for 2016, which was currently under review in Congress.
“We are now in discussions with the government of Pakistan about what shape that assistance takes going forward beyond 2016 and how we might best support Pakistan’s ongoing fight against terrorism, and strengthen regional security,” the US official said.
Assistance from the Coalition Support Fund started soon after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Initially, Pakistan was receiving $1.2 billion a year, which was reduced to one billion and then to $900 million due to budgetary constraints and decreased US presence in Afghanistan.
The April-June 2014 reimbursement of $337 million of Coalition Support Fund assistance was disbursed on July 28.
The congressional mandate for the fund expires in 2016, with the expected withdrawal of the US
troops from Afghanistan. But it may get extended as many in Congress, particularly Republicans who dominate both chambers, believe Afghanistan is not stable enough to allow a total withdrawal.
In 2014, the Obama administration reduced US military presence in Afghanistan to less than 10,000 troops and plans to withdraw the remaining troops by the end of 2016.
“The United States will continue to work closely with Pakistan to achieve our shared goal of defeating violent extremists to ensure the safety of our peoples today and in the future”, the US official said. “The people of the region have suffered far too much at the hands of terrorists and violent extremists.”
He stressed that “a stable, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan that plays a constructive role in the region will remain in the US national security interest, long-term.”
That’s why the United States “continues to engage with Pakistan through bilateral cooperation and robust civilian and security assistance,” the official added.
He said providing assistance to Pakistan allowed the United States to work jointly on issues that were important to both the United States and Pakistan.
A total US withdrawal could have ended the rationale for continuing CSF, which is given to provide protection and logistic support to US troops in Afghanistan.
But the US reluctance to end its involvement in Afghanistan ensures the fund’s continuation.
Officials at the Pakistan Embassy told Dawn that there also was a strong recognition in Washington of Pakistan’s role in maintaining stability along the Afghan border, particularly in North Waziristan.
According to these officials, US policy-makers understand that the disruption of terrorist groups in North Waziristan has to be followed by specific measures to ensure they do not return to the area.
Washington believes that the presence of these elements in North Waziristan can also have an adverse effect on stability in Afghanistan.
Therefore, there are strong chances of continuing CSF beyond 2016. It may continue as CSF or under a new tag.
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015
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