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US allocates $700 mn to Pak to boost security, economy
Washington, Feb 12: The United States has allocated its anti-terror ally Pakistan $700 million from its International Affairs Budget for the fiscal 2005, to help boost the country`s security and economy.
Washington, Feb 12: The United States has allocated its anti-terror ally Pakistan $700 million from its International Affairs Budget for the fiscal 2005, to help boost the country's security and economy.
The funding under the budget, which will come into effect on October 1, 2004, includes a multi-year educational support programme, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the House International Relations Committee in Washington on Wednesday.
Powell briefed the Committee how far Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has come along supporting US goals since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
Pakistan and Musharraf had been supporters of Taliban, Powell said adding the Pakistan president reversed the course after he (Powell) spoke to Musharraf soon after 9/11.
And since then, "Pakistan has apprehended more than 500 Al-Qaeda terrorists and members of the Taliban through the leadership of Musharraf." There are also stronger border security measures and law enforcement cooperation throughout the country.
Powell said Musharraf has assured him full cooperation in ripping up the proliferation network built by Pakistani scientist AQ Khan and his associates.
Powell agreed with members that Pakistan is not a democracy and that ultimate power is in the hands of Musharraf but Pakistan now has a Parliament and a Prime Minister.
He noted that not too long ago India and Pakistan were on the verge of nuclear war but, since then, tensions have been eased, the two countries have exchanged diplomats and trade has started flowing between the two countries.
As part of the war on terrorism, said Powell, Bush established a clear policy to work with other nations to meet the challenges of defeating terror networks with global reach.
The fiscal 2005 budget, he said, provides more than $5.7 billion for assistance to countries around the world that have joined the US in the war on terrorism and to those countries that are key to successful transitions of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. The nations include Turkey, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Philippines.
Maintaining that the Afghanistan of today is very different from the Afghanistan of September 2001, Powell said the US will assist Afghan government in its preparations for elections in June to ensure that they are free and fair.
The fiscal 2005 budget contains $1.2 billion in assistance for Afghanistan that will be focused on education, health, infrastructure and assistance to Afghan National Army.
The US assistance efforts will also concentrate on rehabilitation and construction of an additional 275 schools and 150 health clinics by June 2004, and complete training and equipping of fifteen Army battalions. The US will also extend the Kabul-Kandahar road to Herat. Bureau Report
The funding under the budget, which will come into effect on October 1, 2004, includes a multi-year educational support programme, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the House International Relations Committee in Washington on Wednesday.
Powell briefed the Committee how far Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has come along supporting US goals since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
Pakistan and Musharraf had been supporters of Taliban, Powell said adding the Pakistan president reversed the course after he (Powell) spoke to Musharraf soon after 9/11.
And since then, "Pakistan has apprehended more than 500 Al-Qaeda terrorists and members of the Taliban through the leadership of Musharraf." There are also stronger border security measures and law enforcement cooperation throughout the country.
Powell said Musharraf has assured him full cooperation in ripping up the proliferation network built by Pakistani scientist AQ Khan and his associates.
Powell agreed with members that Pakistan is not a democracy and that ultimate power is in the hands of Musharraf but Pakistan now has a Parliament and a Prime Minister.
He noted that not too long ago India and Pakistan were on the verge of nuclear war but, since then, tensions have been eased, the two countries have exchanged diplomats and trade has started flowing between the two countries.
As part of the war on terrorism, said Powell, Bush established a clear policy to work with other nations to meet the challenges of defeating terror networks with global reach.
The fiscal 2005 budget, he said, provides more than $5.7 billion for assistance to countries around the world that have joined the US in the war on terrorism and to those countries that are key to successful transitions of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. The nations include Turkey, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Philippines.
Maintaining that the Afghanistan of today is very different from the Afghanistan of September 2001, Powell said the US will assist Afghan government in its preparations for elections in June to ensure that they are free and fair.
The fiscal 2005 budget contains $1.2 billion in assistance for Afghanistan that will be focused on education, health, infrastructure and assistance to Afghan National Army.
The US assistance efforts will also concentrate on rehabilitation and construction of an additional 275 schools and 150 health clinics by June 2004, and complete training and equipping of fifteen Army battalions. The US will also extend the Kabul-Kandahar road to Herat. Bureau Report