Share this story!            

Pakistani envoy urges US to deliver on aid promises

WASHINGTON: Ahead of President Asif Ali Zardari’s talks with US President Barack Obama later this week, the Pakistani ambassador to the US has urged the Obama administration to fulfil its promises to provide financial and security aid as his country battles the Taliban.

After billions of dollars were poured into Pakistan under the previous regime by the Bush administration, Ambassador Hussain Haqqani was quoted as saying in The Washington Post on Monday that the Obama administration had produced little. “It is unfair to blame the civilian leadership that is bravely mobilising the nation against terrorism when it is our American partners who have also slowed us down in the war effort by slowing down the flow of assistance,” Haqqani said.

He rejected criticism of the Pakistan government’s performance in dealing with the Taliban there. “We trust that President Obama’s emphasis on Pakistan will also translate promises into deliverables,” Haqqani said.

The newspaper said as Zardari arrives for his first official visit with Obama – part of a tripartite summit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai – the administration has asked Congress to quickly approve millions of dollars in emergency aid for Pakistan. Obama has also backed a five-year $7.5 billion assistance package and is resisting congressional efforts to impose strict conditions on any aid to Pakistan. app

Home | National

Share this story!