Asia

Asia

Report: US to Boost Aid to Pakistan

09 January 2011 01:36 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. US officials cited in article say Obama administration plans to boost military, intelligence, economic support to Pakistan, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.
The Washington Post newspaper reports the United States plans to offer more aid to Pakistan while seeking to strengthen an offensive against militant strongholds in Pakistan’s tribal regions.

U.S. officials cited in an article published online late Friday say the Obama administration plans to boost military, intelligence and economic support to Pakistan.

The Post says the new efforts are based on a recent White House review of the war in Afghanistan that outlined the need to build trust and stability with Pakistan. That report also called for more cooperation from Pakistan to confront militant strongholds on the Afghan-Pakistan border.

The newspaper says U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will address the strategy with Pakistani officials when he visits the country next week.

The newspaper says the Obama administration’s new strategy also represents an attempt to silence Pakistani critics who say the United States has not yet offered adequate support.

The Washington Post says the Obama administration plans to address Pakistan’s complaints that Americans have not established enough of a military presence on the Afghan side of the border. It says the U.S. will also seek permission to allow U.S. and Afghan officials to maintain border coordination centers inside Pakistan.

The Post cites an unnamed senior official saying the Obama administration also plans to increase efforts to find a political solution to the war, including recognizing that Pakistan "must play an important role" in reconciliation talks with the Taliban.