October 29, 2009 11:43 AM

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US to provide 2.3 billion dollars military assistance to Pakistan

US President Barack Obama on Thursday signed a 680-billion dollars defence budget bill that provides 2.3 billion dollars military assistance to Pakistan. The bill also put tough condition for Pakistan to make sure that the funds are not squandered or diverted to affect the balance of power in the region.According to House Majority Leader Steny H Hoyer, Defence Authorisation Bill for 2010 includes a commitment to the stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan, expanded programmes to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of rogue states and terrorists, and a reformed system of defence acquisition to save tax payers money.The military aid money to Pakistan has two major components — 1.6 billion dollars for the Coalition Support Fund and 700 million dollars for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund. For the 1.6 billion dollar Coalition Support Fund, the bill would require the Obama administration to certify that money being spent is in the US national interest and will not adversely affect the region's balance of power.India feels that the American assistance to Pakistan should be more focused on building counter-insurgency capabilities rather than conventional defence equipment which can be diverted for other purposes.

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