The United State should help strengthen civilian democratic Pakistani government, assist with helicopters, night vision equipment and economic support as part of the overall effort to back the country in rooting out al Qaeda militants from its border areas with Afghanistan, a White House paper (WHP) released with the announcement of the US strategy toward the region recommends.
Named, "White Paper of the Interagency Policy Groups Report on US Policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan," it emphasises that engaging and focusing Islamabad on common threat (for both countries) will include successfully shutting down the safe haven for extremists and will also require consistent and intensive strategic engagement with Pakistani leadership in both the civilian and military spheres."
"The engagement must be conducted in a way that respects, and indeed enhances, democratic civilian authority," the White Paper stresses. President Barack Obama on Friday enunciated the US revamped strategy toward Pakistan and Afghanistan in the light of the recommendations made as a result of about two-month review process by a panel of high-level experts.
"Strengthening the civilian, democratic government must be a centerpiece of our overall effort. Key efforts should include fostering the reform of provincial and local governance in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the North West Frontier Province.
"We need to help Islamabad enhance the services and support in areas cleared of insurgents so that they have a real chance in preventing insurgents from returning to those areas." On bolstering Pakistans capability to fight extremists, the White Paper says, "it is vital to strengthen our efforts to both develop and operationally enable Pakistani security forces so they are capable of succeeding in sustained counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations."
"In part this will include increased US military assistance for helicopters to provide air mobility, night vision equipment, and training and equipment specifically for Pakistani Special Operation Forces and their Frontier Corps." The Paper calls for a particular thrust on increasing and broadening economic assistance for Pakistan. "Increasing economic assistance to Pakistan - to include direct budget support, development assistance, infrastructure investment, and technical advice on making sound economic policy adjustments - and strengthening trade relations will maximise support for our policy aims.
"It should also help to provide longer-term economic stability. Our assistance should focus on long-term capacity building, on agricultural sector job creation, education and training, and on infrastructure requirements. Assistance should also support Pakistani efforts to hold and build in western Pakistan as a part of its counterinsurgency efforts."
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