WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump today unveiled a $4 trillion annualBudget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, proposing $256 million incivilian assistance and $80 million in military aid to Pakistan.
The proposal of aid to Pakistan comes weeks after Trump administrationsuspended nearly $2 billion in security assistance to Islamabad due to its“inability to take action against terrorist groups operating from its soil.”
The White House has said it would consider lifting the freeze if it seesaction by Pakistan against terrorist groups.
The budgetary proposal says that the military aid depends on Pakistantaking action against terrorist safe havens.
“The Budget requests $256 million for Pakistan in economic and otherassistance to help increase stability, promote economic growth and createopportunities for US businesses,” said the annual Budgetary proposals sentby the White House to the Congress.
“In addition, the Budget requests $80 million in Foreign Military Financingassistance to enhance Pakistan’s counter-terrorism and counter-insurgencycapabilities, contingent on Pakistan taking appropriate action to expandcooperation in areas where US-Pakistan interests converge and to addressareas of divergence, in line with the administration’s South Asiastrategy,” the White House said.
The Budget furthers the US goal of a stable and secure South Asia bysupporting the Afghan government and security forces in their fight againstthe Taliban insurgents and jihadist terrorist organisations such asal-Qaeda and ISIS.
It requests more than $5 billion for continued US training and assistancefor the Afghan security forces and would enable US forces to conductcounter-terrorism operations to ensure that the region cannot be used byjihadist, terrorist groups to plot transnational attacks against the UShomeland, citizens overseas, or allies and partners.
“The Budget also continues to include funding to support America’spartnership with Pakistan,” it said. The Budget’s more than $630 millionfor civilian assistance supports the President’s new strategy to empowerthe people of Afghanistan to take ownership of their future, the WhiteHouse said.
In addition, the Budget strengthens and sustains improvements in education,health, governance and other sectors that are essential for securing astable and prosperous Afghanistan.