Lalit K Jha/PTI / Washington Dec 11, 2009, 15:58 IST
The US House of Representatives today approved nearly $1.5 billion of assistance to Pakistan to be spent under the Kerry-Lugar legislation that asks Islamabad cease support to terrorist groups on its soil and dismantle camps that threaten its neighbours.
The amount was approved as part of the massive $1.1 trillion appropriations bill. The US Senate is expected to pass the bill by this weekend.
According to a statement issued by the Committees on Appropriations, Pakistan would receive $1.459 billion for the fiscal year 2010, which is $17.5 million above the 2009 enacted level including supplemental appropriations.
But this is $123.5 million below the request, it said.
In all, Pakistan would receive $3.8 billion in the financial year 2010, which began October 1, 2009.
Besides the $1.5 billion passed by the House today, the US has already approved $1.6 billion for Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund, which provides for reimbursement of expenditure that Pakistan incurs in providing infrastructure facilities to the coalition.
The US will also spend $700 million on Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund in the new fiscal year. The programme is dedicated to bolstering the anti-terror partner's ability to combat insurgents in the restive regions along the Afghan border.
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