WASHINGTON, April 9: The United States defence department is said to be seeking authority from Congress to be able to provide money on its own to foreign countries and “indigenous forces”, a function that has so far been the domain of the state department.

The Pentagon’s new move, which will initially involve $130 million during the current fiscal year, is based, among other considerations, on the difficulties encountered in paying Pakistan for the fuel, billeting and other costs incurred on US troops following the launch of the military campaign in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has now been reimbursed for the costs out of a supplemental Congressional appropriation and Pentagon funds, but initially the US could not pay its bills because the Pentagon lacked the requisite authority and the state department was reluctant to spend money form its own funds.

Reporting the Pentagon proposal on Monday, The Washington Post said a similar situation arose in financing military equipment for the Northern Alliance rebels in Afghanistan.

According to the Post, many see the Pentagon trying to cross a line and, in effect, establish a parallel foreign security assistance programme.

As proposed, the Pentagon spending authority would not be subject to existing limits on the state department’s foreign assistance programmes, including provisions relating to violations of human rights, sponsorship of terrorism and nonpayment of debt. Where the money is spent would come solely at the discretion of the defence secretary. The Post report does not say what would happen in case the state department determines that the US needs to politically sanction a country and whether the Pentagon would still, on its own, be able to provide military assistance to that country.

Defence officials contend they need the new authority to cover extraordinary situations triggered by the “global war on terrorism”.

The proposal is buried in a Pentagon request to Congress for $14 billion in supplemental spending, and is not seen as a request to acquire additional money but to seek general authority to transfer existing funds at the Pentagon’s disposal.