By NNN-APP
Washington : The US administration is exploring ideas to bolster cooperation with anti-terrorism ally Pakistan including a proposal by Senator Joseph R. Biden to triple socio-economic development assistance for the South Asian country, according to a report in The Washington Post.
The proposal by the Democratic senator urges the United States to have a three-fold increase in non-military aid for Pakistan, sustain it for 10 years, and focus on schools, roads and health care.
As victors in Pakistan’s parliamentary poll prepared to form a coalition government, a report in the newspaper’s Sunday edition cited an unnamed senior State Department official as saying the US is going to work with both President Pervez Mushrraf in his new role and new leaders.
The proposal on boosting aid would buttress recent US strategy emphasizing education and economic development as keys to stabilizing society and weaning away any support for extremists in remote regions.
The United States has already allocated about $400 million in economic aid for the South Asian country in fiscal 2008, according to the State Department.
“We should give the new government a democracy dividend above our annual assistance to jump-start progress,” Biden said in a statement from Islamabad during his trip to observe the Feb. 18 parliamentary election.
After February 18 poll – hailed as a milestone in regard with the country’s democratic progress – some of the leading American newspapers have also called for significantly enhancing US economic assistance for Pakistan while also continuing security aid in the fight against terrorism.
The administration plans to have discussions with Pakistani leaders about counter terrorism, once a government is fully formed, according to officials quoted in the report.