U.S. pledges financial aid for Pakistan
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, speaks as Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar looks on during a joint news conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct. 21, 2011. / AP Photo
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is pledging robust assistance to Pakistan despite demands on U.S. finances and a sometimes rocky relationship with Islamabad, according to a status report on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The State Department report outlines U.S. goals in the region more than a decade after the Sept. 11 terror attacks triggered the war against al Qaeda, and the progress after billions of dollars have been spent and American lives lost. It also outlines the steps forward, looking ahead to the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces by the end of 2014.
The report was delivered to Congress on Thursday. The Associated Press obtained a copy.
"Though a tremendous amount has been accomplished, we also have no illusions about the task before us," the report said about Afghanistan. "We expect that ongoing violence, lack of institutional and human capacity, discrimination against women and vulnerable groups, and Afghanistan's incredibly low economic baseline will remain difficult challenges."
The report said the U.S. has reached its "high water mark" for civilian funding and the government in Kabul must move toward establishing revenue sources. The report said the U.S. will build a foundation for the Afghans to assume responsibility for their future.
On Pakistan, the department said the relationship with Islamabad "is not always easy, but it is vital to our national security and regional interests."
In fact, the relationship has been extremely strained the last few months to the point of breaking. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently traveled to the region to pressure Pakistan to crack down on the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, a major threat to American forces in the region. Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Pakistan's intelligence agency was a "veritable arm" of the Haqqani.
A low point came in May when U.S. forces found and killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden deep inside Pakistan.
Still, the administration insisted it will continue to provide civilian aid to Pakistan, which has fallen from $1.5 billion in the 2010 fiscal year to $1.1 billion this year. The report said next year's levels are uncertain, but the administration reaffirms its "commitment to providing robust, multi-year civilian assistant to Pakistan."
Unclear is how much Congress will push to reduce funds for Pakistan as lawmakers consider spending bills for the State Department and foreign operations.
The report suggested that a low-cost route toward improving stability in the region would be expanding U.S. market access for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The department said it was seeking congressional authorization for creating a U.S.-Pakistan Enterprise Fund, similar to funds created in Eastern Europe and with the former Soviet states in the 1990s.
Popular on CBSNews.com
-
Photos: Underground shots of NYC's Second Ave. subway project New York City's Second Ave. subway was first conceived almost a century ago and when it is completed, it will extend all the way down the eastern side of Manhattan with 16 new stations. CBS News' Don Dahler reports on one of the most challenging public works projects in the country.
- Day care worker accused of drugging snacks for nap-time
- Report: U.S. teacher training an "industry of mediocrity"
- Shock as alleged Nazi unit leader, 94, found in U.S
- FAA approval sought for 650-foot-tall Vegas thrill ride
- Feds digging in Mich. field for Jimmy Hoffa's remains
- Church shooting in Ogden, Utah not a random act of violence Play Video
- Report: Pregnant workers face routine discrimination
- Former hitman testifies at "Whitey" Bulger trial
But $300 million every day to chase a few hundred goat herders around in Afghanvietistan ? SURE ! No limits for that... I mean as long as China agrees to keep lending us 40% of that 300 million a day. This is how Empires fall.. bankrupting themselves. Pride goeth before the fall.
Fix America first and foremost.
Need a cause to throw our money at, seek a domestic US problem to fix or better yet save some cash for our rainy days. Why must elected US politicians and their civil servant appointees freely give away other US citizens hard earned tax dollars?
US already pays more than its fair share to UN global programs, stop the extra direct overseas aid tax giveaways.
Not US role to tackle every world crisis.
Stop trying to bribe or buy supposed worldwide allies.
US cannot afford it anymore; try old fashioned diplomacy with more respectful talk and less tax cash funded trinkets.
Paying our troops enemies ( commander-in-chief and President Obama and the White House advisers know and have proof Pakistan supports and facilitates Islamic terrorists to maim and kill American troops and scores of innocent civilians) any amount of money or military aid of any sort makes the US congress, senate and the White House nearly as culpable as Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheik Mohammad who facilitated, supported in letter and spirit and assisted in carrying out the deaths of nearly 3,000 on 9/11. Our troops are fighting for us abroad trusting that we will support them, not their potential killers. How on earth can the politicians forget that and play politics with the lives of these brave heroes. America - get ready to vote every single one of these traitors out of office for giving Pakistan billions so that they carry on killing our troops against all signed agreements as an ally.
As for Afghanistan, this mincing of words about things 'remaining challenges' is code for the situation is hopeless.
I have noticed that our new 'war' policy is drones only. Makes perfect sense.
The American Error was thinking we can, or should, try to save others from themselves.
Too bad Americans can't remember we were always "winning" in Viet Nam right up until the last Marine squad was forced to the roof of the American embassy in Saigon and fled by helicopter.
The first casualty of war is the truth.