Pakistan is believed to be pushing for the new mechanism in order to sustain its offensive against militants once the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) expires in 2015.
The issue came up for discussions during the recently concluded talks between the senior defence officials in Washington, officials said on Thursday.
The meeting of the US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group (DCG), primary forum for exchanging views and coordinating defence policy, was held in the US this week.
The two sides were led by Lt-Gen (retd) Alam Khattak, Pakistan’s Secretary Defence, and Christine E Wormuth, the US Under-Secretary of Defence for Policy.
According to the joint statement issued after the talks, the United States and Pakistan discussed the importance of a mechanism to reimburse Pakistan for operational expenses after CSF expires at the end of fiscal year 2015.
The CSF was established by the US in 2001 to cover some of the cost issues by the countries in the fight against extremist violence.
It covers 27 nations, including Pakistan, for logistical, military and other forms of support provided to the US in support of overseas contingency operations.
Under the programme, Pakistan periodically submits expenses incurred in support of contingency operations.
The joint statement also said recognising the enduring security requirements on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the two sides agreed to continue providing Pakistan’s counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency requirements which will inform the provision of security assistance.
Both the delegations welcomed the continued positive trajectory of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship and agreed that bilateral cooperation was essential to promoting regional peace and stability and defeating al Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the region, it added.
Both sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to a strong defence relationship, which they stressed should focus on achieving common objectives.
During the talks, the two sides shared their respective assessments of the bilateral relationship and discussed each country’s strategic priorities, and agreed on areas for future defence cooperation.
Both delegations affirmed the significance of the Pakistan military’s ongoing North Waziristan Agency operation, which the US side affirmed has disrupted militants.
Both sides expressed appreciation for the efforts by their respective militaries to improve operational coordination.
ISAF chief meets army chief
Meanwhile, the commander of US-led International Assistance Security Force (ISAF) General John Campbell met Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif in the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that during the meeting matters of mutual interests including progress of operation Zarb-e-Azb, regional security situation and coordination along Pak-Afghan border.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2014.
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So now we get to the heart of why Pakistan finally decided to enter into N Waziristan? Nice gesture but probably too late because it's Congress that decides to allocate money in the USA not their military.