WASHINGTON, Oct 19: The US had quietly decided to release more than $1.6 billion in military and economic aid to Pakistan that was suspended when relations between the two countries disintegrated over the covert raid that killed Osama bin Laden and deadly US air strikes against Pakistani soldiers.

Officials and congressional aides said ties had improved enough to allow the money to flow again.

American and Nato supply routes to Afghanistan are open. Controversial US drone strikes are down.

The US and Pakistan recently announced the restart of their “strategic dialogue” after a long pause. And Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is travelling to Washington for talks with President Barack Obama.

However, in a summer dominated by foreign policy debates over the coup in Egypt and chemical weapons attacks in Syria, the US hasn’t promoted its revamped aid relationship with Pakistan. Neither has Pakistan. The silence reflects the lingering mutual suspicions between the two.

Congress has cleared most of the money, which should start moving early next year, officials and congressional aides said.

Over three weeks in July and August, the State Department and the US Agency for International Development informed Congress that it planned to restart a wide range of assistance, mostly dedicated to helping Pakistan fight terrorism.

The US sees that effort as essential as it withdraws troops from neighbouring Afghanistan next year and tries to leave a stable government behind.

Other funds focus on a range of items, including help for law enforcement and a multi-billion-dollar dam.

The State Department told Congress that the US hadn’t conducted any significant military financing for Pakistan since the “challenging and rapidly changing period of US-Pakistan relations” in 2011 and 2012. The department stressed the importance now of enhancing Pakistan’s anti-terrorism capabilities through better communications, night vision capabilities, maritime security and precision striking with F16 fighter jets.

The department told Congress on July 25 that it would spend $295 million to help Pakistan’s military. Twelve days later it announced $386 million more.

A pair of notifications arriving on Aug 13 and worth $705 million centred on helping Pakistani troops and air force operating in the militant hotbeds, and other counter-militancy efforts.

The administration had until the end of September to provide Congress with “reprogramming” plans at the risk of forfeiting some of the money, which spans federal budgets from 2009-2013.

State Department officials said the renewal of aid wasn’t determined by any single event. But they noted a confluence of signs of greater cooperation, from Pakistan’s improved commitment to stamping out explosives manufacturing to its recent counter-terrorism offensive in areas bordering Afghanistan.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to talk publicly about the aid relationship ahead of Mr Shari’s visit.

They said the money would start reaching Pakistan in 2014 but take several years to disburse fully.

“Pakistan’s long-term stability is of critical national security interest to the US, so we remain committed to helping achieve a more secure, democratic and prosperous state, including through continued civilian and military assistance,” said Dan Feldman, the State Department’s deputy special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He said the assistance plan would deliver results for both countries and enhance Pakistan’s ability to fight terrorism.---AP