WASHINGTON: The US budget for the next fiscal year, released on Monday, includes assurance that Washington will continue to assist Pakistan’s efforts for countering terrorism.

“For Pakistan, the budget demonstrates our commitment to fostering stability and prosperity, and provides security assistance that promotes counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency capabilities,” said a statement issued with the budget.

Take a look: No Kerry-Lugar fund for Pakistan since 2013: US

“The budget continues to support public engagement and partnership programmes in Pakistan and maintains staffing in order to support these critical US priorities,” it added.

The statement issued by the US State Department assured Islamabad and Kabul that the budget for the next US fiscal year “reinforces our commitment to Afghanistan and Pakistan”.

The US fiscal year begins on Oct 1 of the current year and ends on Sept 30 of the next calendar year.

The $3.99 trillion US budget includes $561 billion in defence outlays. There is a discretionary funding of $50.3bn for the State Department and the US Agency for International Development. Funds for countering terrorist activities and helping development in Afghanistan and Pakistan come from these two sources.

The defence budget includes funds for confrontation with Russia over its incursion in Ukraine and the US-led fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. It also reserves $14bn for cyber-security measures.

The State Department noted that Afghanistan now had “a new reform-minded” government, which encouraged Washington to continue its security, economic and civilian programmes in that country.

These programmes were “necessary to solidify the progress made over the last decade”, the statement said.

The budget also invests in security improvements at diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan to sustain operations as the US military presence continues to decline. The $50.3bn of discretionary funding includes $7.0bn in overseas contingency operations. Of this, $3.5bn is for countering the ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ and for responding to the crisis in Syria.

About $1bn has been set aside to address the root causes of migration from Central America, including the migration of unaccompanied children.

The budget also provides funds for promoting clean energy and sustainable development in vulnerable countries. It provides $5.4bn for international organisations and peacekeeping missions.

A total of $4.8bn has been set aside to support security requirements, infrastructure and programmes that enable US operations and relations with foreign governments.

The budget also allocates an undisclosed amount of money for countering Russian “pressure and aggressive actions”. It will provide essential support for Ukraine and neighbouring countries in the region.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2015

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