The aid relationship between the United States and Pakistan is badly out of balance.
Heavily weighted toward military aid over economic assistance, it has strengthened the hand of Pakistans security establishment at the expense of the civilian government. Both countries have reason to be disappointed that so much U.S. aidnearly $19 billion since 2002has achieved so little. Rather than continue to purchase Pakistans grudging cooperation on counterterrorism, Washington and Islamabad would both be better served by a renewed emphasis on
civilian and development assistance.
Vital Statistics
> Pakistan has been heavily dependent on foreign aid ever since independence in 1947. From 1960 to 2002, the country received
$73.1 billion in overseas development assistance.
> The United States is Pakistans largest single bilateral donor.
> From 2002 to 2010, the United States gave Pakistan almost
$19 billionan average of more than $2 billion per yearprimarily for counter terrorism operations.
> The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, also known as Kerry-Lugar-Berman, commits the United States to provide $7.5 billion in non-military aid to Pakistan over a five-year period.
And what has Pakistan got to show for all this aid? Some Pakistanis contend that
$70 billion has been spent by Pakistan in the War Against Terror since 2002! This is complete hogwash. If it's true, how come no one has given the details of
where and how this mind boggling amount has been spent? Just sloshing around figures without backing it up with facts is lame to say the least.
By the way, $70 billion can raise seven strike corps with all its supporting elements!! But most of it was spent on running down a few militants in the badlands of the North West?