Pakistan received $265mn from US to boost terror fight

Islamabad, October 11: The US has given Pakistan $265 million during the current fiscal year under Foreign Military Fincing (FMF) for capacity enhancement in counter terrorism and counter-insurgency, revealed a US State Department report. The fund improves Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency operations, particularly in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and enhances the country’s ability to participate in maritime security operations and counter maritime piracy. “Pakistan has cooperated with the US in counter terrorism efforts and since 2001, has captured more than 600 Al-Qaeda members and their allies, and the US maintains a strong security partnership with Pakistan,” reports Dawn citing the report released by the US State Department.

The report comes as Prime Minister waz Sharif is due to visit the US later this month, starting from October 21. The report added that the US also gave Pakistan $5 million in the current fiscal year under the Intertiol Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance.

US is also Pakistan’s largest bilateral trading partner, according to the report. During the current fiscal year, $18.72 billion was remitted back to Pakistan from overseas Pakistanis, of which 14.4 per cent was remitted back from the US. Pakistan has taken steps over the years to liberalise its trade and investment regimes, either unilaterally or in the context of commitments made with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Intertiol Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, said the report released by the state department. (IANS)