US to release $1.1 billion aid-package for Pakistan

After Pakistan resumed NATO supply routes into Afghanistan, the United States is going to release about $1.1 billion withheld from Pakistan’s military aid.

Pentagon spokesperson Navy Captain John Kirby while speaking to the media on Friday said that the withheld amount was part of the US Coalition Support Fund to reimburse Pakistan for its efforts American counter-militancy operations in the region.

After tensions increased between Islamabad and Washington last year, the payments in the head of CSF were suspended by the American administration. Pakistan closed the land routes into Afghanistan after NATO air-strike killed 24 Pakistani troops at Salala check-post.

Pakistan, which demanded an unconditional apology from the United States for the deaths, resumed the supply line for allied forces battling in Afghanistan after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said sorry to her counterpart, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

The Pentagon spokesperson said, “Several trucks have gone through and this will continue. The traffic is starting to flow”.  Replying to a query about stance of Leon Panetta over the state of Hillary Clinton, he said that the defence secretary fully supports the approached that was taken to ease the tensions.

The bilateral relationships have witnessed an improvement after Islamabad decided to resume the Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs).

According to the State Department spokesman, the first few trucks carrying supplies to American and NATO troops in Afghanistan crossed the Pakistani border Thursday after a seven-month closure of the supply routes. This is the evidence of Pakistan’s support for safe, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

The spokesman further said that progress in relations with Pakistan is among the US priorities as both the countries have common interests. He was of the opinion that it would be a mistake not to believe that US-Pak relations were now back track.

Foreign Office spokesperson Moazzam Ali Khan on Thursday also informed that they were hoping that a substantial amount will be released at the earliest.

The CSF was established by the US in 2001 to cover some of the cost incurred by countries in the fight against terrorism. It covers 27 nations, including Pakistan, for logistical, military and other forms of support provided to the US in support of overseas contingency operations.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jul 6 2012. Filed under USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.