Pak support to US since 9/11 worth nine billion dollars

To secure the support of Pakistan in the global war on terror, the US has given nine billion dollars to Islamabad since 9/11, as compared to 12.6 billion dollars given between 1954 and 2002.

Washington, July 25 : To secure the support of Pakistan in the global war on terror, the US has given nine billion dollars to Islamabad since 9/11, as compared to 12.6 billion dollars given between 1954 and 2002.

The US has provided 4.42 billion dollars in economic and military assistance to Pakistan and 4.59 billion dollars in reimbursement for its military contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom.

The total amount spent to secure Pakistan's support between 2002-2007 stands at $9.008 billion. Fully $6.39 billion of this amount is directly or indirectly related to Pakistani military programmes.

According to David O Smith, writing in Strategic Insights, a professional magazine, the new element in the defence relationship is a high level of day-to-day co-operation in the global war on terrorism.

Although informal mechanisms to co-ordinate military operations associated with Operation Enduring Freedom were established in late September 2001 and expanded periodically thereafter, Smith writes.

At US Central Command headquarters in Florida, Pakistan maintains a five-man liaison team headed by a brigadier who also is a member of the J5 Coalition Planning Group, the Daily Times quoted him as saying.

Similarly, in Pakistan, a liaison cell exists to coordinate operational issues between the US-led Combined Forces Command, Afghanistan and Pakistan's Army General Headquarters and Joint Staff Headquarters, Smith adds.

These liaison elements also assist in managing the bilateral joint exercise programme.

ANI