Pakistan

US not considering aid cut: Crowley

The United States says it is building a strategic partnership with Pakistan in good faith.

February 23, 2011

WASHINGTON: The United States has said it is building a strategic partnership with Pakistan in good faith and wants to resolve the issue over its consular employee Raymond Davis - now also identified by officials as a CIA employee - so that it does not affect the important bilateral relationship.

Assistant Secretary of State Philip J Crowley also said Washington is not considering curtailing any military or economic aid to Pakistan but insisted that Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released.

“We’re building a strategic partnership with Pakistan. It’s important to the future of the region. It’s also important to the security of the United States. We are engaging Pakistan in good faith. We want to see this resolved as soon as possible so it does not become an impediment in our relationship and it does not measurably interfere with the work we are doing together in fighting extremism that threatens Pakistan and threatens us,” he said. “We are not contemplating any actions along those lines,” Crowley said when asked if the US government is considering curtailing any of its military or economic assistance to Pakistan over the Davis row.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (21)

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @Basit, And, Basit, sorry to burst your bubble buddy, but you have to see this. http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/where-is-coal-found/ Enjoy.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @Kazmis, Buddy, are you referring to the physical passage? They have tonnes of options man. They can airlift the troops over Tajikistan into Europe or Russia or over even Pakistan(Its not like Pakistan will attack the aircrafts, Pakistan will commit suicide if it does that). Physical passage is not at all the issue here, that is why nobody talks about it. Its about the logistics and situation on the ground which wont affect the troop pull out plan. Get ready for a tougher decades ahead. And, US will obviouisly blame Pakistan for the Taliban menace and cancel aid and make sure IMF and WB are not that forthcoming in giving loans to Pakistan. IMF is already starting to make unreasonable demands, you must have read them in your newspapers. Things will get far worse. Hold on.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @Basit, Largest coal reserves? Show me one half decent scientific report which says Pakistan "has the largest coal reserves" and which says its economical. If Pakistan has such reserves why did it not use it to fulfil its growing energy demands, which must have introduced hours of loadshedding in Pakistan's economical centeres. Iran and Saudi Arabia have lot of Oil, but that Oil is profitalbe if countries like US buy them. Look at Iran now,which USA has sanctioned, and look at SA, from which US is friends with and gets Oil for a cheap rate. SA has far more well off than Iran. And, regarding your belief that India is growing because of US, think again. India grew despite the US or USSR's help during the 1990s. I am not saying India is a super power now, but definitely on its way to become one. World Bank predicts India's growth rate will overtake that of China in under 5 years. India is working on it. Good to know that Pakistan is one of the top ten failed states in the world. http://web.worldbank.org/external/default/main?contentMDK=20675180&menuPK=612509&theSitePK=612501&pagePK=2904583&piPK=2904598

Basit | 13 years ago | Reply @pp_arman: I totally agree with you. I wish that our political landscape changes which can make reforms in Army as well.

pp_arman | 13 years ago | Reply @ Basit, I like & agree your comments about Pakistanis nature, “once something is committed then you will do it without caring about yourself. That is how we are. But we are too lazy in committing something”. Very True... But for reserves, not sure you are right. Can we use these reserves and give a big kick to US aid to maintain the self respect... The answer is NO. Of course there are reserves although slightly exaggerated by you but there are many reserves, which can help Pakistan to come on track of economy. What is required is; Military needs to stop spending money on un-necessary arms, divert budget to welfare of common man, keep anti-India matter on lower priority & at diplomatic level, keep religion out of politics and Politician free from corruption.

Kazmis | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: When I say USA won't leave Afghanistan, I mean that USA won't find a passage to leave.

Basit | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: Wow man, okies let me make you count atleast few natural resources.... coal reserves... have more energry than combined iran and saudis oil, 5th largest gold mine, copper mine, Oil, Gas, Platinum, com'on man google it please. man u never been to north of pakistan, there u can see the diamonds under ur feet... im not joking, i have seen there. so first atleast check out urself, that what Pakistan got naturally, then say anything dude. You are a man of incredible India :) you should study before say anything.. right! well, you know, you can not predict the future, but yeah you can learn from the past thats what can be the possibility in future. do you know when Pakistan got economically stable relatively? you dont know dude ;) its when America and UN had sanctions on Pakistan. okies now third thing Importance of Pakistan.... well here you made me laugh :) thanks you know, unfortunately the people and the place of Pakistan is important to your big boss America who is helping you to become a small giant infront of China in this region. WHY? you must question urself that why big powers like China, America, Russia, and then India, Iran have big interests in Pakistan???? huh??? according to you we dont have anything, so what can they take from us? Dude, think. May be u will get an answer, if u r wise enough. you never know dude :) Oh i just read your reply about Gold reserves... well man, i dont know how to make you believe, but there are two companies who want the contract for the extraction and due to the cheap rates the case is in courts and they are being stopped to do so. May be you even now u dont believe that :) i can understand u dude ;)

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @Kazmis, Think again. They can. Afghanistan has only brought US death. They can pull-out boots from the ground and let the Drones handle all the killing. Even if Afghanistan becomes a bloody mess after US pullout, US will be thousands of miles away, sitting pretty. Pakistan will be right next to the volatility. I remember people in Pakistan saying US will not leave Iraq due to Oil, but they did, Afghanistan has not even that! They start date for pullout is July 2011, a few months away. @Walid Janjua, I dont know if you were being sarcasic, dude, but if you were, good for you, if you weren't, I pity you- Gold Reserves? lol.. @Basit, "because if it stops it totally then there will be more chances of Pakistan to stand and build itself by its own" --> There are many aspects to consider, the most imporatant being Political and Economic. Pakistan has no viable political set up- Democracy cannot bloom here as long as the Army controls the Country. That is not going to change unless India is around and Army looks at India as an enemy. Honestly, I believe there will never India-style or US-style Democracy in Pakistan in the foreseeable future. Economically also, Pakistan is in a deep hole. Imagine,60% of the Country's Budget goes for Debt Servicing and Defence. 60%! Pakistan's foreign reserves can last only a few weeks/ maybe a few months. Pakistan has a $59 Billion debt currently and the inflow of FDI has stopped. No considerable mineral resources, also, unlike Iran, who can afford to take on the US(even though it has the Oil Reserves, Iran is struggling economically, Imagine what will happen to Pakistan). "IMF, WB, US dont want Pakistan to rely on its own resources." --> First of all,what resources? Pakistan is at best a middle level power, now one of the top ten failed nations in the World. It has no mineral resources to become important. Pakistan's importance lies in its location which can be a corridor for massive trade, but that depends on Pakistan achieving peace, purging all the Terrorists and ushering real Democracy, none of which can happen any time soon. Second, Pakistan will be treated on par its status and its importance. You cant expect to play with the "big boys" being a medium level country and treated like a "big boy".

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply I think all the comments were unanimous in saying that the aid went to the corrupt politicians, US Aid agencies and not to the needy. Why nobody mentions ARMY which is also a major beneficiary of the aid; Anoop: Do u mean Pak army when u say "people who have their head in the sand" (of the thar desert)

Basit | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: Hi Anoop, you are right in many aspects... but why America will not stop Pakistan aid is because if it stops it totally then there will be more chances of Pakistan to stand and build itself by its own, and IMF, WB, US dont want Pakistan to rely on its own resources. It may looks stupid argument to you, but that is how big powers are controlling the rolling countries like Pakistan to keep them rolling so when there is a need you can use them. Yeah but for sure, if America leaves Afghan land, then there will be a big cut in aid. Another absurd but true statement: May be you know Pakistanis nature, even you can see from cricket to everything, you can expect anything, once I commit something then I will do it without caring about moiself. That is how we are. But we are too lazy in committing something.

Asif Butt | 13 years ago | Reply I think the only thing which Pakistan needs now is to pressurize and kick out all politicians. No politician should be given votes. Go for new & fresh faces. We have the strong media and fresh blooded judiciary to stand guard this time. All we need is to be rid of the curse of legacy party leaders.(it is a bloody hidden form of indirect dictatorship) And yes , Pakistan does not need the bloody US aid. The US foreign policy is nothing beyond the US national interest , and in this new decade the US national interest if the Israeli National interest. So to hell with the western aid. To hell with the racist west. Asia is the ESSENCE of planet Earth.....

Walid Janjua | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: I dont know what world you live in, buy the in the REAL world, the facts speak for themselves. All the Oil Contracts in Iraq went to US Companies. And Yes! We certainly CAN survive without US Aid. I dont think you have been following the news. We have more energy resources than Saudi Arabia and Iran combined. We have gold reserves to last decades. What world do you live in?

Kazmis | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: USA can not leave this place beyond 2014 even.

s.g. Jilanee | 13 years ago | Reply But why isn't the US cutting the aid? Is it because it is not any act of humanity but a business deal? It is the fee it pays to Pakistan for service rendered. Those services, which it needs vitally, will stop if the remuneration is withheld. In fact though it will be a boon for the people of Pakistan. It will teach them the blessings of a frugal, self-reliant, life style. So, shove it Mr. Crowley.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @asim, You guys were saying the same thing about Iraq, how US will not get out due to Oil, but they did and they did it in 1 and a half years! They will move out sooner from Afghanistan, and Pakistan will bear the brunt of it, again. If you hoping Pakistan will receive US aid after 2014 then you are delusional. If you think Pakistan can find alternatives to US aid or that it can survive without it think again and go ask a real economist. Just dont quote random figures like 60% goes to the corrupt and rubbish. With the kind of deficit and mismangement that is present in Pakistan, things will get really really tough in Pakistan. Also, bear in mind, institutions like IMF and WB are heavily controlled by the US. If US aid stop the IMF and WB will become a lot more tough to deal with.

abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply ur aid cut 4sure will have an effect on the pockets of corrupt ppl ..nothing reaches 2 a common man so its ok...crowley i insist u should cut it.....go ahead

asim | 13 years ago | Reply @anoop dont worry they did not initiate war 2 finish .they have their interests and will not walk out so easily... where as 2 aid is concern it makes no difference to a common man coz more than 60% goes to them through diff processes and the remaining goes to the pocket of corrupt ppl ..so no worries even if they cut it.............

shahbaz | 13 years ago | Reply i think US chickened out let us arrest all us nationals involved in terrorism in pakistan now we need to expose their links with ttp

Walid Janjua | 13 years ago | Reply They don't want to hurt relationship between the two countries for obvious reasons. They need us right now. With them facing near defeat in Afghanistan they can not afford a bad relationship. Especially after Pakistan blocking the Nata supply line for a week.

SK | 13 years ago | Reply please do cut our aid by all means if you are sincere with Pakistani people as compared to crooks you support- aid cut will not impact people of Pakistan since it doesn't reach them in any case

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply US not considering aid cut NOW! They cant. They are dependent on Pakistan for logistics till 2014. But, after 2014, Pakistan can kiss their aid goodbye. For Pakistan, who dont have their head in the sand, this must be really scary. For those who do, rejoice. :)

Replying to X