ISLAMABAD: The Obama administration has asked US Congress to authorise financial assistance of $1.1 billion under Kerry-Lugar Bills to Pakistan for the upcoming fiscal year 2012-13. US Embassy spokesman Mark Stroh told Business Recorder on Wednesday that for the fiscal year 2012, the US Congress was still deliberating the final budget, which includes assistance to Pakistan.
"We have asked for $1.1 billion for Pakistan (for the upcoming fiscal year", he said. The figure of $1.1 billion is higher than the government of Pakistan budgetary estimation which shows Rs 8.2 billion (approximately $86 million) for the upcoming fiscal under the Kerry Lugar Bill. This discrepancy reflects miscommunication between the two countries currently negotiating their rules of engagement after the serious setback to the relations of the erstwhile allies subsequent to the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers by Nato forces last year on Salala border post.
Stroh, however, pointed out since the US Congress still has to make a final determination on the budget, the number may change, but "that is the figure ($1.1 billion) we have asked Congress to authorise", he added. He also pointed out that there was a misunderstanding on Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill funding, saying the bill created a mechanism whereby the United States could authorise and disburse to Pakistan as much as $1.5 billion per year for five years, from 2009-2014 (US $7.5 billion total) "It was never a guaranteed $1.5 billion per year", he argued. In FY 2011, he said that the figure was approximately $1.2 billion. "In both FY2011 and our request for FY2012, we believe this assistance is consistent with the promise of the KLB bill and its goals", he maintained.
About the Coalition Support Funds (CSF), he said that the US authorities have been engaging with the Pakistani government on the full scope of the parliamentary recommendations in a way that recognises their concerns and the fact that this is a relationship based on mutual interests and shared commitments. "We have had good discussions in this regard and will continue our dialogue", he said. In this context, he said that the United States is committed to addressing Pakistan's CSF claims, and we continue to discuss this and other issues.
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