Daily Times

WASHINGTON: The State Department of United States (US) approached the ruling party Congress to allocate funds for Pakistan in the fiscal year 2020-2021 for resuming its military education and training facilities program, according to reports released on Tuesday.

US presided the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program which invites officers from foreign countries to attend various military schools in the United States, such as the U.S. Army War College or the National Defense University.  Acquiring the English language and familiarizing with the human rights concept, are also included in the course.

Meanwhile, the US State Department is federally administrated that is responsible for carrying US foreign policy and International relations.

As per the rules of the US, federal agencies cannot spend money unless funds are authorized and appropriated by committees, but in the meantime, the federal government holds the option to pass “special” or “emergency” appropriations for emergency use.

Then, the budget is due to be presented on October 1 of the current year, but the proposal shall be made early, according to the laws.

Thus, the US State Department asked a total of $104.9 million for the fiscal year 2020-2021. Whereupon, $12.7 million would be allocated on training military officers from the South and Central Asian region, which includes $3.5 million for resuming this facility for Pakistan.

The development comes when President Donald Trump administration asked to resume the military aid for Pakistan in December of last year. Since, August 2018 the military training has been closed down by the US.

Be that as it may, when President Trump had asked to cut military aid for Pakistan by quoting “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organisations.” In the response,  the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a press conference had asked that US should treat Pakistan with respect and trust as our first priority is our sovereignty,

It is worth mentioning, Pakistan receives aid from countries in a bid to counter-terrorism activities. Nonetheless, Pakistan has also spent $80 billion on the War on Terror since 2001, besides more than 70 thousand causalities, according to reports.

On the other hand, according to US-based analysts, the Funding for the State Department and international aid programs in the upcoming fiscal year would be cut by nearly 8 percent.