WASHINGTON, Mar 7: US President Barack Obama has proposed USD 882 million in foreign aid to Pakistan for next year, a substantial drop of 18 per cent from the fiscal 2013.
According to Congressional experts, who have tabulated the budgetary proposals which was sent to the Congress by Obama, the President has proposed USD 546 million in total economic-related assistance and USD 336 million in total security related assistance to Pakistan.
The assistance to Pakistan in fiscal 2013 was USD 1.2 billion – USD 834 million economic and USD 361 million security related aid.
Figures for the fiscal 2014, which ends in October this year, are not yet available.
This, however, does not include the coalition support fund reimbursement which is the money given to Pakistan in lieu of the actual expenses made by Islamabad towards the support of the US operations in Afghanistan.
Under the security related assistance, the Obama Administration has retained the 2013 level of USD 280 million of foreign military assistance for the year 2015.
For 2014, Obama had proposed USD 300 million in foreign military financing for Pakistan.
There is been drop in other security related funds including counter narcotics.
There is no allocation to Pakistan counterinsurgency fund/counterinsurgency capability fund, which was USD 452 million in 2012, USD 800 million in 2011 and USD 700 in 2010.
Under the economic related assistance the largest drop has been in the Economic Support Funds – from actual USD 724 in 2013 and requested USD 766 in 2014 to just USD 546 proposed for the fiscal 2015.
The drop in financial aid to Pakistan is attributed to the continued strain on US economy, as a result of which even the Department of Defence has been forced to cut its budget. (AGENCIES)
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