White House unveils budget with trimmed Pakistan aid

The budget is subjec­t to Congre­ss' approv­al with $800 millio­n PCCF, and $2.4 bn for State Depart­ment...


Huma Imtiaz February 13, 2012

WASHINGTON: A list of conditions accompanied the funds allocation request for Pakistan among the White House, Department of Defense and the State Department budgets for fiscal year 2013.

The White House has allocated $800 million for Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) in its budget for fiscal year 2013, whereas the State Department and USAID budget for Pakistan comes to $2.4 billion.

The budget, which will go to Congress for approval, shows a decrease of $50 million in the allocation figure for PCCF from last year. The purpose of the fund is to “build and maintain the counterinsurgency capability” of Pakistan’s security forces. The services provided by the US include human rights training, providing equipment, supplies, training and infrastructure repair.

The description of the PCCF stated in the budget documents released by the State Department state that the PCCF “enhances the capabilities of the Pakistan Army, the Pakistan Air Force, and the Frontier Corps by meeting their needs for training, equipment, and infrastructure. The PCCF will assist the Government of Pakistan to eliminate the violent extremists' ability to operate along its border with Afghanistan. The PCCF account will draw down when the need for intensive support for engagement against terrorist organisations in Pakistan declines.”

State Department

In a press release issued by the State Department, the budget allocation requested for Pakistan for FY2013 is $2.4 billion. This includes the $800 million cited in the PCCF, and is meant for assistance to “strengthen democratic and civil institutions that provide a bulwark against extremism, and support joint security and counterterrorism efforts.

Certifications

The budget documents also outline certifications that the US secretary of State is required to make to various Congress committees before funds such as the Foreign Military Financing Program, PCCF etc. can be allocated.

According to the conditions, the Secretary must certify that Pakistan is cooperating with the US in counterterrorism efforts against the Quetta Shura, Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, al Qaeda and other domestic and foreign terrorist organizations. Pakistan must not be supporting terrorist activities against the US or coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Interestingly, a condition includes that the Secretary of State must certify that, “Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies are not intervening extra-judicially into political and judicial processes in Pakistan”

 

Other certification requirements include the issuance of visas “in a timely manner for United States visitors engaged in counterterrorism efforts and assistance programs in Pakistan.” Pakistan must also take action against IED networks and prevent nuclear proliferation.

Even though the requirements state that the US Secretary of State can suspend assistance to Pakistan if it doesn’t demonstrate progress in these goals, the Secretary of State also has the right to waive the certification if to do so is in the national security interest of the United States.

COMMENTS (15)

Optimist | 12 years ago | Reply

If ANY country refuses US/Western aid, these country start begging them to receive (look at recent UK reaction after Indian minister said we don't want that because UK wanted India to buy 126 Fighters as a thank you!!). . Western countries use this aid to develop their 'parrots' (read some NGOs) and also nurture agents like Doctor who ran polio vaccine in Usama's compound. . They also use this aid to bribe governments to sell their expensive gadgets (ironically called defense equipment). They take away more than they give!!!

Harry Stone | 12 years ago | Reply

@Amjad:

Why not add a new auto for every family in your list of wants and demands? You have about as much change of getting that too. You fail to realize that PAK unlike Greece is not a supporter of terrorists or has nuclear weapons. PAK made the choice to have nuclear weapons at the expence of building other sectors of its nation. As they say some times you can't have your cake and eat it too.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ