President Camacho
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2011
- Messages
- 1,680
- Reaction score
- 0
US pledges financial aid for Pakistan
WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is pledging robust assistance to Pakistan despite demands on US finances and a sometimes rocky relationship with Islamabad, according to a status report on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The State Department report outlines US goals in the region more than a decade after the September, 11 terror attacks triggered the war against al-Qaeda and the progress after billions of dollars have been spent and American lives lost.
It also outlines the steps forward, looking ahead to the withdrawal of US combat forces by the end of 2014.
The report was delivered to Congress on Thursday. The Associated Press obtained a copy.
Though a tremendous amount has been accomplished, we also have no illusions about the task before us, the report said about Afghanistan.
We expect that ongoing violence, lack of institutional and human capacity, discrimination against women and vulnerable groups, and Afghanistans incredibly low economic baseline will remain difficult challenges.
The report said the US has reached its high water mark for civilian funding and the government in Kabul must move toward establishing revenue sources.
The report said the US will build a foundation for the Afghans to assume responsibility for their future.
A low point came in May when US forces found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden deep inside Pakistan.
Still, the administration insisted it will continue to provide civilian aid to Pakistan, which has fallen from 1.5 billion dollars in the 2010 fiscal year to 1.1 billion dollars this year.
The report said next years levels are uncertain, but the administration reaffirms its commitment to providing robust, multiyear civilian assistant to Pakistan.
Unclear is how much Congress will push to reduce funds for Pakistan as lawmakers consider spending bills for the State Department and foreign operations.
The report suggested that a low-cost route toward improving stability in the region would be expanding US market access for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The department said it was seeking congressional authorization for creating a US-Pakistan Enterprise Fund, similar to funds created in Eastern Europe and with the former Soviet states in the 1990s.
WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is pledging robust assistance to Pakistan despite demands on US finances and a sometimes rocky relationship with Islamabad, according to a status report on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The State Department report outlines US goals in the region more than a decade after the September, 11 terror attacks triggered the war against al-Qaeda and the progress after billions of dollars have been spent and American lives lost.
It also outlines the steps forward, looking ahead to the withdrawal of US combat forces by the end of 2014.
The report was delivered to Congress on Thursday. The Associated Press obtained a copy.
Though a tremendous amount has been accomplished, we also have no illusions about the task before us, the report said about Afghanistan.
We expect that ongoing violence, lack of institutional and human capacity, discrimination against women and vulnerable groups, and Afghanistans incredibly low economic baseline will remain difficult challenges.
The report said the US has reached its high water mark for civilian funding and the government in Kabul must move toward establishing revenue sources.
The report said the US will build a foundation for the Afghans to assume responsibility for their future.
A low point came in May when US forces found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden deep inside Pakistan.
Still, the administration insisted it will continue to provide civilian aid to Pakistan, which has fallen from 1.5 billion dollars in the 2010 fiscal year to 1.1 billion dollars this year.
The report said next years levels are uncertain, but the administration reaffirms its commitment to providing robust, multiyear civilian assistant to Pakistan.
Unclear is how much Congress will push to reduce funds for Pakistan as lawmakers consider spending bills for the State Department and foreign operations.
The report suggested that a low-cost route toward improving stability in the region would be expanding US market access for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The department said it was seeking congressional authorization for creating a US-Pakistan Enterprise Fund, similar to funds created in Eastern Europe and with the former Soviet states in the 1990s.
