WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has unveiled a $4 trillion annual budget for the new fiscal year, proposing $256 million in civilian assistance and $80 million in military aid to Pakistan. The proposal of aid to Pakistan comes weeks after Trump administration suspended nearly $2 billion in security assistance to Islamabad. The White House has said it would consider lifting the freeze if it sees action by Pakistan against militant groups. The annual budgetary proposals sent by the White House to the Congress say the military aid depends on Pakistan taking action against terrorist safe havens. “The budget requests $256 million for Pakistan in economic and other assistance to help increase stability, promote economic growth and create opportunities for US businesses,” said the annual budgetary proposals sent by the White House to the Congress. “In addition, the budget requests $80 million in Foreign Military Financing assistance to enhance Pakistan’s counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency capabilities, contingent on Pakistan taking appropriate action to expand cooperation in areas where US-Pakistan interests converge and to address areas of divergence, in line with the administration’s South Asia strategy,” the White House said. The budget furthers the US goal of a stable and secure South Asia by supporting the Afghan government and security forces in their fight against the Taliban insurgents and militant organisations such as al Qaeda and Islamic State.
Published in Daily Times, February 14th 2018.
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