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Washington resumes military assistance to Islamabad

United States has resumed provision of military assistance to Pakistan, which was frozen in 2011-2012

Photo EPA/ W. KHAN

Photo EPA/ W. KHAN

WASHINGTON, October 22. (Itar-Tass) – At a regular press briefing, U.S. State Department Deputy Press Secretary Marie Harf announced that the United States has resumed provision of military assistance to Pakistan, which was frozen in 2011-2012.

She clarified that the U.S. Presidential Administration has informed the U.S. Congress of this decision in summer, noting that throughout the period the United States did not cease civil assistance to Pakistan in the form of financial assistance.

According to Harf’s statement, currently the United States is willing to execute civil and military assistance programs with a total financing volume of $1.6 billion. She said that funds are allocated approximately 50/50 for military and non-military purposes – these funds have already been allocated. Regarding the 2014 fiscal year, Harf said that the U.S. Government wants to secure $1.16 billion more for assistance to Pakistan.

According to the State Department secretary, within the framework of civilian assistance, the United States supplied Pakistan with funds for three major sectors: energy, economy, education. This allowed Pakistan to repair over 600 schools, provide scholarships to 12,000 higher education students and build over 900 kilometers of roads, including four major trade routes to Afghanistan since 2009.

Harf concluded that two countries have close ties: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is currently visiting the United States; on Wednesday he will meet U.S President Barack Obama in the White House.

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