By NNN-APP
Washington : A senior Bush administration official strongly defended US assistance for Pakistan in socio-economic and counter terrorism fields, citing the South Asian ally’s key efforts in the fight against terrorism and a broad-ranging mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.
In a congressional testimony, Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of state for South Asia, also renewed US commitment to cooperation in Pakistan’s plan for the development of federally administered tribal areas along Afghan border and stressed the US aid will contribute to the country’s long-term progress.
“I don’t think it’s worth our while to withdraw money from girls’ education, all the money we put into education and health in Pakistan. I don’t think it’s in our interest to withdraw money from the counter terrorism efforts in Pakistan,” he told lawmakers at a hearing of the House sub committee on national security and foreign affairs Wednesday.
The legislators questioned Boucher about the US leverage in ensuring fair and transparent elections in the country. He assured members of Congress that the US is helping Pakistan in ensuring a free, fair and transparent poll on February 18.
The US assistance, Boucher said in his reply, is helping the Pakistani people make progress in socio-economic fields and helping the authorities curb violent extremism.
He acknowledged the sacrifices Pakistan has made in combating terrorism along Afghan border.
“And there is a lot of fighting going on. And they’ve lost a thousand people to terrorism in the last year.
They’ve lost 250 members of the security forces since July. So they are engaged in a fight, And I think it behooves us to help them pursue that as—you know, with the best possible tools.”
In the social sector, Boucher said the US assistance programs for Pakistan focus on these areas in a fundamental and long-term way.
“We’re spending over $125 million this year on education. We promote health programs that serve the people of Pakistan . We’ve had a lot of programs that promote economic growth, as well as security and counter narcotics. Add about $100 million over the last few years that’s been spent on democracy programs, including $25 million or so that was spent directly on elections.
“So it’s a very important balance in our efforts. It’s an important balance that maintains a whole breadth of interests in the Pakistani people and in trying to help them achieve the kind of nation and society that they aspire to.”
He also noted that there have been “some positive trends in Pakistan, over the years and even in recent times including a vibrant civil society and a strong media.
On sustainable development in the tribal areas, Boucher said the Pakistani government has devised a two billion dollars effort to which the US will contribute $ 150 million a year.
“We’re putting in 750 million (dollars) over five years. There will be about 100 million (dollars) a year for a slightly longer period. “
“It is a solid program, we think. And one strong element of that program is in the early stages now, is to start building the administrative apparatus to reach out to the people, to conduct projects, to build bridges and schools, and conduct health programs in a verifiable and auditable way, so that they have a set of institutions that can carry out projects in those areas and get things done.”
The US, he stated, will also work with Pakistan on bolstering capability of the Frontier Corps.