Coalition Support Fund: Alternatives for refund of war on terror bills
While political forces wrestle over terms of reengagement with the United States, Islamabad and Washington have covered some ground, through backdoor channels, to resolve the issue of reimbursement of outstanding military expenses.
Washington has agreed in principle to a proposal, put forward by Pakistan’s military, to abandon voucher-based calculation of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and adopt a more transparent and internationally-recognised formula, sources told The Express Tribune.
The US has also agreed to release roughly $400 million before June, provided Pakistan’s parliament approves a resolution protecting interests of both sides, they added.
Options on the table
The joint staff headquarters has asked the US to pay either the equivalent of United Nations peacekeeping forces mechanism – $1,400 per soldier per day – or an amount matching international standards.
The compensation is proposed to be calculated on the basis of the number of soldiers deployed on western borders or fighting against militants in the tribal regions, currently, estimated to be around 140,000.
Sources, however, said it is unlikely that the US would pay $1,400 per soldier per day and there is a possibility it will accept the second option.
The CSF disbursements will be one of the main agenda items in a scheduled meeting between Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and visiting Deputy US Secretary of State Thomas Nides on Wednesday (today), confirmed a senior official of the finance ministry.
The official said that the ultimate resolution of the CSF issue depends upon parliament’s decision to reopen Nato supply lines, and the delay in that decision “has limited finance ministry’s bargaining options.”
Chronic issue
The CSF disbursements have been a thorny issue between the finance ministry and the State Department. So far, Pakistan has billed $3.4 billion in claims, of which the US has rejected $900 million by arguing that the military has charged high rates.
The US has also withheld releases of the reconciled amount since a CIA contractor Raymond Davis killed two Pakistanis in Lahore.
Since May last year, when the US killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Islamabad has also stopped claiming CSF reimbursements.
For the current fiscal year, the finance ministry estimated to receive $1.4 billion and delay in the disbursements is likely to widen the budget deficit.
Sources said the new options have been proposed due to dispute over reimbursements claimed through vouchers. If accepted, the new proposal will not be applicable on former claims though, they added.
Besides discussing outstanding financial issues, Islamabad would also like to listen what the US will offer against proposals already discussed with them, said finance ministry official while commenting on the agenda of the Wednesday meeting.
The delay in finalisation of parliamentary recommendations “will influence our available options,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2012.
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Since you stopped supporting the war on terror you haven't reduced the size of your military nor have you made any significant changes in where the troops are stationed - pretty clear that the size of your military and it's placement have never had anything to do with the USA and they shouldn't give you a dime.
There is no similarity between seconding forces to UN and providing coalition support in Pakistan. Having said that, US should pay in excess of USD 20b / year in lieu of CSF, direct and indirect damage to economy and infrastructure for their support - regardless of the fact that it maybe our problem too, we didn't choose to pursue it in this manner, hence we suffer, although partially, for decisions made by them. That's the case we need to plea, though we have ourselves to curse for our current situation, but that is a separate story.
Mercenary army not only to Arabs muslim monarchs but to USA?? Unbelieably true.
Absolutely disguesting. No ghariat at all. If Pakistan does not get the apology for Salala murders, they should not accept USDs as well. Once u accept whatever is the rate, then you are bound to go into N Waziristan. You cannot pick and chose the terrorists u or us want to attack, U have to attack all of them.
Hence proved: military bases for sale,army for rent,only priority is dollars.....
Of course nobody is going to pay "by the day." Pakistan is the master of dragging things out and lack of true activity.
@IndianMuslim: The going UN rate apparently
$1,400 per soldier per day?
Sovereignty on sale to highest bidder.
Musharraf is to blame for giving away transit rights in Pakistan for nothing while Russia and the Central Asian States are charging fair rates- in fact all nations follow fair market practices. I can't understand why no one talks about erasing Pakistan's debt? After all, tens of billions have been erased from European nations who are burdened by debt and Pakistan's debt is nothing compared to European countries- imagine how the country could progress economically if the circular debt problem was resolved by erasing a good chunk of the debt owed.
Yeah I like the sound of the $1400 per soldier every day, though somehow I doubt America will spend $72 billion a year on our military.
He is thinking of his new job at the World Bank endorsed by USA. He is least bothered in getting compensation due to Pakistan.
Yet again dealing for military. But Generals in western borders using tribal people(Qabailee) to fought for them. Solders are often attack in their hideouts not in battle filed. God when our army will think about their country instead of US$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.