US offers $ 2bn military aid to Pakistan
The United States on Friday announced a two billion dollars military aid to Pakistan to fight terrorism, especially the Taliban and al-Qaida which use the soil of the South Asian nation to carry out attacks in Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the offer at the end of a three-day Third U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Washington, in the presence of Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
?In keeping with our enduring commitment to help Pakistan plan for its defense needs, I am pleased to announce our Multi-Year Security Assistance Commitment to Pakistan. We will request $2 billion in foreign military assistance from Congress for 2012 through 2016,? Clinton said.
?This will complement the $7.5 billion in civilian projects that has already been approved in the Kerry-Lugar-Berman legislation,? she said.
“I want to say publicly what many of us have said privately: the United States has no stronger partner when it comes to counter-terrorism efforts against the extremists who threaten us both than Pakistan,” she said.
?We recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and service that the men and women, particularly the soldiers of the military in Pakistan, have made in order to restore order and go after those who threaten the very institutions of the state of Pakistan,? she said.
Clinton said the military working group has had productive discussions this week about their work together to combat terrorism and eliminate violent extremism and the organizations that promote it that are operating in Pakistan.
?These groups threaten the security, first and foremost, of the people of Pakistan, of neighbors of the United States and indeed of the world,? she said.
Speaking at the joint press appearance, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: “There are still tongue-in-cheek comments, even in this capital, about Pakistan’s heart not really being in this fight. We do not know what greater evidence to offer than the blood of our people. Madam secretary, we are determined to win this fight.”
“Pakistan and the U.S. need to cooperate more closely in bringing stability and peace in Afghanistan. We also hope that our consultation and cooperation on issues of regional peace, security, and stability will continue to make a salutary impact on the overall environment,” he said.
