GUNNER
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US Offers 2 Bn Dollars Military Aid to Pakistan
WASHINGTON, Oct 22, 2010 - The United States will offer two billion dollars in fresh military assistance to Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday, hailing Islamabad's efforts against extremist groups.
The United States has "no stronger partner when it comes to counter-terrorism" than Pakistan, Clinton said at high-level talks between the two nations in Washington.
Clinton said that the military package, which is subject to congressional approval, would come over several years and be in addition to 7.5 billion dollars in civilian aid the United States has committed over five years.
The military aid is the latest twist in the uneasy partnership between the two nations since the September 11, 2001 attacks, after which Pakistan dumped support for Afghanistan's Taliban and backed US military efforts.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is accompanied by the army chief to the strategic dialogue in Washington, denounced criticism of his country's efforts against extremism.
"There are still tongue-in-cheek comments, even in this capital, about Pakistan's heart not really being in this fight. I do not know what greater evidence to offer than the blood of our people," Qureshi said, sitting next to Clinton.
"We are determined to win this fight," Qureshi said.
Clinton said that Americans "recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and service" of Pakistan's military.
"These groups threaten the security first and foremost of the people of Pakistan, of neighbors, of the United States and indeed the world," Clinton said.
But the military aid may trigger unease in Pakistan's rival India, which President Barack Obama is set to visit in early November in a bid to forge a broader relationship.
Obama plans to pay his first presidential visit to India next month in an effort to show his personal commitment to broadening the relationship between the world's two largest democracies.
Indian commentators have worried about Obama's early focus on Pakistan and China -- concerns unlikely to be allayed by the military package.
WASHINGTON, Oct 22, 2010 - The United States will offer two billion dollars in fresh military assistance to Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday, hailing Islamabad's efforts against extremist groups.
The United States has "no stronger partner when it comes to counter-terrorism" than Pakistan, Clinton said at high-level talks between the two nations in Washington.
Clinton said that the military package, which is subject to congressional approval, would come over several years and be in addition to 7.5 billion dollars in civilian aid the United States has committed over five years.
The military aid is the latest twist in the uneasy partnership between the two nations since the September 11, 2001 attacks, after which Pakistan dumped support for Afghanistan's Taliban and backed US military efforts.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is accompanied by the army chief to the strategic dialogue in Washington, denounced criticism of his country's efforts against extremism.
"There are still tongue-in-cheek comments, even in this capital, about Pakistan's heart not really being in this fight. I do not know what greater evidence to offer than the blood of our people," Qureshi said, sitting next to Clinton.
"We are determined to win this fight," Qureshi said.
Clinton said that Americans "recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and service" of Pakistan's military.
"These groups threaten the security first and foremost of the people of Pakistan, of neighbors, of the United States and indeed the world," Clinton said.
But the military aid may trigger unease in Pakistan's rival India, which President Barack Obama is set to visit in early November in a bid to forge a broader relationship.
Obama plans to pay his first presidential visit to India next month in an effort to show his personal commitment to broadening the relationship between the world's two largest democracies.
Indian commentators have worried about Obama's early focus on Pakistan and China -- concerns unlikely to be allayed by the military package.
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