ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs has sought a detailed report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the number of United States (US) military trainers in Pakistan, Express 24/7 reported on Friday.
The committee met in Islamabad with chairman Saleem Saifullah Khan heading the meeting and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir in attendance.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Saifullah said the committee had questioned why a large number of American military trainers had been issued Pakistani visas.
The committee has also asked the Foreign Ministry to name the person responsible for approving such a large number of visas.
Hina Rabbani noted that only $500 million of the $800 million US military aid was allotted for American military trainers in Pakistan. She expressed hope that the remaining $300 million dollars aid would be released by the US soon.
Earlier this month, the US cancelled $800 million in aid and equipment to Pakistan which is more than one-third of the $2 billion it gives to Pakistan for security assistance as per the congressional bill approved by the two countries in 2009.
The cut-off came as a response to Pakistan’s expulsion of US military trainers as US officials claimed that the act made Washington ‘unhappy’.
Pakistan shut down a US program that had been training paramilitary forces, sending home more than 100 US trainers, and had threatened to close the base the CIA has been using for drone plane attacks on militant targets.
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@john: LOL !!! Come on John, I am sure you could have given your two pence worth too, to this statement!! As I am sure that a lot of us are missing your Valid Input in the comments on ET, lately. Hope you are well dear friend.
she looks very cute... sorry ET.... just couldn't resist it..
@Bangash: I agree with you my friend. @chengez K: Your logic is that USA has created these monsters so anything they do all their lives it is US fault. This logic is as bogus as saying that "why did God create Lucifer, anything wrong that happens in the world is not Lucifer's fault, because he was created by God for this purpose". Regards, Mirza
@Bangash:
Why dont you tell who brought Arab miltants including OSAMA to this part of the world??
TRY TO SAY.......CIA...........
Since when does Army report to Senate in Pakistan???? I think this relatinship is rather different, than as stated !!! Yes this is how the Democrasy works in the rest of the world, but here we talking about Pakistan !!!
Why dont they ask for a report on number of Arab militants in the country instead ?
"Hina Rabbani noted that only $500 million of the $800 million US military aid was allotted for American military trainers in Pakistan. She expressed hope that the remaining $300 million dollars aid would be released by the US soon."