US says no plan to reduce ties with Pakistan

[Devil Soul]

The United States remains conscious of the significance of close ties with Pakistan and has no plans to lower the key South Asian relationship, the State Department said.
The US commitment to sustain wide-ranging relations with Pakistan – whose role is considered critical to regional stability and a smooth U.S. drawdown from Afghanistan – came in the wake of a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report this week which said Washington’s aid for Islamabad represents a steep decline from $1.9 billion last year to $1.2 billion new fiscal year starting October 1.
Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters at the daily briefing that Washington is alive to the importance of its relationship with Pakistan and Secretary of State John Kerry is eager to visit the country.
When questioned pointedly if the US was considering to downgrade its relationship with Pakistan – as claimed by some Indian media reports interpreting decline in US assistance for Pakistan – the spokesperson responded that there was “absolutely not” such move.
John Kerry, the spokesperson said, has been a “big advocate” of aid for Pakistan, which has been extensive over the last several years.
“The secretary (Kerry) is looking forward to visiting Pakistan. He would like to be able to spend some time on the ground. He recognizes the important relationship we have with Pakistan. As you know, he also spoke with – has spoken with the prime minister (Nawaz Sharif) when – several times, actually, since he was elected. And I think that further confirms the importance of the relationship.”
Regarding specifics of the next fiscal year’s aid levels for Pakistan, the spokesperson said she would need to have a closer look at the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.
But, she explained, as the budget is rolled out by the White House in Congress and worked through, she expected the details on funding would be the most accurate.
The US assistance for Pakistan is covered under $7.5 billion Kerry-Lugar-Berman programme, which spans over five years.
In its report, the CRS did not explain the “steep decline” but the US officials, while detailing the foreign budget request earlier this year, officials in Washington had said a Pakistan-specific programme called Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund was being abolished, in view of the implementation issues.
However, the officials said US security assistance for Pakistan would be covered under foreign military funding.
Moreover, the US assistance for Pakistan under Kerry-Lugar-Berman programme also varies each year.
Meanwhile, the latest CRS report noted that the United States’ strategic interests are inextricably linked with a stable Pakistan.
It noted that spurring the South Asian country’s energy sector remains Washington’s highest priority in its assistance for Islamabad in the new fiscal year 2014 for which the Obama administration has requested $265 million to aid the country’s energy sector development in the new fiscal year.
“According to the State Department’s FY2014 Congressional Budget Justification, assistance to Pakistan’s energy sector is the “highest priority” and the administration’s request for $265 million in FY2014 funding for this effort accounts for more than one-third of all civilian aid requested for the coming fiscal year,” the report said.
“The goal is to support the Pakistani government in “developing a policy environment that will attract private sector investment and increase cost recovery, decrease technical and commercial losses, and add megawatts to the grid through visible generation projects.”
By the end of 2013, aid expects to have added fully 900 MW to Pakistan’s power grid, enough to power some two million homes and businesses. An added 300 MW is planned by the end of 2014. The great majority of this added capacity will come from improvements of the Muzaffargarh and Jamshoro power stations (serving the cities of Multan and Hyderabad, respectively), as well as modernization of the Tarbela Dam. There is a particular focus on boosting Pakistan’s hydropower potential by funding projects to improve capacity at five dams (Mangla, Kurram Tangi, Gomal Zam, Satpara, and Tarbela). The Tarbela Dam is one of the world’s largest and supplies 16 percent of the country’s electricity. In March, a project to restore three of the dam’s generators was completed, adding 128 megawatts to the national power grid.
The United States had provided the $16.5 million needed for the repairs. In mid-2012, Congress released $280 million in new assistance for Pakistan’s energy sector; these funds will support projects at Mangla and Kurram Tangi. - See more at: US says no plan to reduce ties with Pakistan | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

 

[RangerPK]

I think trade relation with USA is beneficial but having military ties with USA is disastrous. We need to move away from military relation and move towards trade with USA.

 

[That Guy]

Trade, not aid.

 

[muse]

Interesting article - it seems that the reduction of aid to Pakistan is interpreted as a downgrading of relations -- It's too bad that so much of the substance of this relationship is that of aid donor and recipient - such a relationship is poison. Some argue that US aid is very helpful, and it may be, the public perception of this aid is poison, not just in Pakistan but also the US, it needs to changed.

 

[fatman17]

at best its a transactional relationship - there is no movement on the strategic dialouge - the proponents of this idea are both out of the US Govt. - one dead, the other retired - holbrooke/clinton - there are no PK lovers in the white house. there are no friends of PK in congress. the military supply chain is blocked/suspended. for every dollar the US provides in economic aid, 90cents are spent in washington. we as a economy have nothing to offer to the US. after 2014 when the US makes a humiliating exit from afghanistan, PK will be once again left to 'fend' for itself. our govt. and the military are flummoxed and dont know what to do - thus we are running to the chinese for help. signing ten's of MoU's that will not see the light of day!. china needs PK as a strategic bulkwark against the US/India strategic designs to curtail China in Asia and make India the hegemon or policeman of this area. this is the extent of China's need for PK. beyond that we dont have anything to offer to China either.

 

[muse]

I think it's not possible to have better relations with the US - the best we can hope for is that it's not a "bad" relationship

Let me also offer that there is more to the Chinese agreements - while these are not "agreements" per se, it seems to me that we may be seeing a shift in Chinese policy, The Chinese, I argue, have taken the various challenges Robert Zoellick outlined to them, to their faces, on their soil, seriously and we may be seeing a new policy develop

China has an interest in the security of its coastal approaches and in gaining influence in the western Pacific. The United States has a network of alliance and partner countries that value the stability and economic security provided by America’s presence. These alliance ties are important to America’s regional and global standing, which has reassured others. Therefore, China’s relations with some neighbors, including Japan, cannot be separated from U.S. relations with China or U.S. relations with its allies. At the same time, these U.S. partners—like the United States itself—value their economic, political and cultural ties to China.

TODAY, CHINA’S Asian allies are few, poor, unreliable and often isolated, while America’s allies are prosperous and expanding. If China’s assertion of influence is interpreted as a threat to others, China will inevitably evoke a counterreaction. To avoid creating its own encirclement, China has an interest in building ties with U.S. allies and friends, not in increasing their fears. The United States and China together have an interest in fostering regional integration, within a global system, without threats that weaken confidence or escalate tensions.

 

[fatman17]

I think it's not possible to have better relations with the US - the best we can hope for is that it's not a "bad" relationship

musey we have a rising middle class - 30-40m people - this is equal to a population of a mid-sized country. the potential for economic growth is immense if only we can get our priorities straight. the US MNC's will come running to this country to 'make a buck or two'. the US needs to treat us with dignity not pushing & shoving to get their objectives met through us. in return we need to come clean on some of our 'double-dealings'.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

musey we have a rising middle class - 30-40m people - this is equal to a population of a mid-sized country. the potential for economic growth is immense if only we can get our priorities straight. the US MNC's will come running to this country to 'make a buck or two'. the US needs to treat us with dignity not pushing & shoving to get their objectives met through us. in return we need to come clean on some of our 'double-dealings'.

You have listed them in reverse order Sir. We need to come clean before USA changes its attitude and only then would the MNCs follow. And the chances of that happening? Not likely any time soon.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

"Faith, Unity, Discipline" > Aid & Drone strikes

 

[RazorMC]

You have listed them in reverse order Sir. We need to come clean before USA changes its attitude and only then would the MNCs follow. And the chances of that happening? Not likely any time soon.

True.

Plus, MNCs mean a significant investment. This is going to remain a reluctant process unless Pakistan's security issues are addressed and our relations with all of our neighbours (India, Iran and Afghanistan) become more or less stable.

Anyways, I wonder how many of them are lining up to set up shop in a place deprived of basic things like gas, electricity and law enforcement?

As has been rightly said earlier, Pakistan offers little strategic or economic advantage.

 

[muse]

musey we have a rising middle class - 30-40m people - this is equal to a population of a mid-sized country. the potential for economic growth is immense if only we can get our priorities straight. the US MNC's will come running to this country to 'make a buck or two'. the US needs to treat us with dignity not pushing & shoving to get their objectives met through us. in return we need to come clean on some of our 'double-dealings'.

That's too optimistic -- I am sure you are aware that many Western companies are selling their assets in Pakistan, even though other Western companies are entering the market --- As a comparison, what would you make of the size of the middle class and the purchasing power of both state and citizens in Iran to be? If all things were equal, that is to say if Iran was not under the hammer, it would be very attractive destination for Western companies - and yet..

So lets not imagine that the US are as Lenin described Western businesses, "they will sell the rope with which we will hang them" - as a matter of fact, and I think all forum members will find it instructive, please do read Robert Zoellick's speech on the "Sun on shoulders, Wind in Hair" thread.

We like to be respected and that we means we have to offer them respect.

 

[Storm Force]

FATMAN 17


WHAST DO YOU MEAN BY

in return we need to come clean on some of our 'double-dealings'.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/strate...-plan-reduce-ties-pakistan.html#ixzz2YOO03gi7

please explain