US President Barack Obama has proposed over $2 billion in civilian and military aid to Pakistan under his emergency war funding request to Congress, apart from seeking millions of dollars for fortifying American diplomatic missions in the militancy-plagued country.
The supplemental request sent to the Congress on Thursday is in tune with Obama's new Afghan-Pak policy that plans to expand the US fight against terrorism across the borders of Afghanistan into Pakistan as well.
Besides proposing $1.4 billion for economic assistance to Pakistan and to support additional civilian personnel, more secure infrastructure and diplomatic operations, Obama requested another $400 million to build the counter-insurgency capabilities of Pakistani security forces.
As the threat to the US embassy in Pakistan has scaled up, mainly due to presence of al-Qaeda and Taliban in that country, Obama also requested Congress to release millions of dollars in emergency war funds to increase security of American missions and diplomats in the Islamic nation.
Obama proposed a separate $52.9 million for operating and security costs for the US missions in Pakistan. In addition to this, he requested $806.2 million to construct new secure and safe facilities in Pakistan, including a new US embassy building in Islamabad.
While seeking over $2 billion in aid to Islamabad under the supplemental request of $83.4 billion for funding of wars against terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Obama proposed to establish a "Pakistan Counter- insurgency Capability Fund". He requested the US Congress to release $400 million till September of next year.
To be used by the Secretary of Defence in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Pakistan Counter-insurgency Capability Fund would be used to provide assistance to Pakistan's security forces.
The aid would include programme management and provision of equipment, supplies, services, training and funds; and facility and infrastructure repair, renovation and construction to build counter-insurgency capability of Pakistan's military, Frontier Corps and irregular security forces to respond to urgent humanitarian relief requirements that will immediately assist Pakistani people affected by military operations.
Obama's supplemental request argues that one of the keys to success in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan lies in building a more effective counter-insurgency capability in Pakistan's security forces. The purpose of this programme is to improve Pakistan's ability to secure its borders, deny safe haven to extremists and fight insurgents, it said.
The supplemental also requests $2 million for Crisis Response Team training for Pakistan.
