Karachi, July 31: The United States has paid 256 million dollars to Pakistan for extending logistical support to US-led coalition forces in their anti-terror war in Afghanistan, officials said today. The money transfer from Washington brings the total to more than one billion dollars received by Pakistan since joining the fight against terrorism in 2001, they said.
"We have received a payment of 256 million dollars from the US that has driven the (forex) reserves to 11 billion dollars," said Syed Wasimuddin spokesman for the central State Bank of Pakistan. Pakistan had earlier received a cumulative amount of 847.2 million dollars for its support to the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has provided at least three air bases to the US-led force while its security forces have reportedly rounded up some 500 al-Qaeda suspects in the past 20 months. The captives mostly handed to the US, included Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi bin al-Shaiba, both alleged co-planners of the September 11 terror attacks, and Osama bin Laden's deputy Abu Zubaydah.

The US had already written off more than one billion dollars in Pakistani debt and Islamabad also secured the rescheduling of 12.5 billion dollars of debt for the next 38 years. Bureau Report