WASHINGTON, Feb 6: The Bush administration has proposed a marginal increase in US assistance to Pakistan – from $700 million to $785 million – during the 2008 budget year.

Afghanistan, another key US ally in South Asia, would also see a similar increase, from $968 million in the last budget proposals to slightly more than $1 billion for 2008.

On Monday, President George W. Bush sent a $2.9 trillion budget plan to Congress for the next budget year, which begins on Oct.1, 2007.

The assistance for Pakistan would include a proposed $300 million in military aid aimed in part at helping Pakistan fight terrorism. The assistance will be part of a $3.2 billion, five-year aid package signed during President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Washington in 2003.