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| India-Pakistan |
| US to curb drone attacks on Pak soil |
| 2008-04-18 |
| The United States has promised to curb airstrikes by drones against suspected militants in Pakistan, as part of a joint counter-terrorism strategy agreed with the new civilian government led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Islamabad, according to a report published in the Guardian on Thursday. The British daily reported that the strategy would be supported by an aid package potentially worth more than $7 billion, which is due to go before Congress for approval in the next few months. The package would triple the amount of American non-military aid to Pakistan, and is aimed at “redefining” the bilateral relationship, US officials say. Pakistan will also be given a “democracy dividend” of up to $1 billion — a ‘reward’ for holding peaceful elections and forming a coalition government, the Guardian reported. Of that, $200 million could be approved in the next few days, it added. Aid: The aid package — being put together by Democratic Senator Joseph Biden — will mark a decisive break in US policy on Pakistan, which for much of the past nine years focused on President Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani military as Washington’s primary partners in the “war on terror”. Officials in Washington said on Wednesday that the shift had already been made. “Senator Biden wants to show the relationship is much broader than a military one, and that we are willing to sustain it over time,” one of the senator’s senior aides said. A US administration official said, “Each day Musharraf’s influence becomes less and less. Civilians are in control. People aren’t meeting with Musharraf anymore . . . we are very pleased with the new civilian government.” |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Now with fewer, bigger booms! Boodle overload included! |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2008-04-18 13:25 |
| #3 The most expensive BJ in the history of the world. Only you usually pay to get one, not give one. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-04-18 09:54 |
| #2 The article doesn't say anything about curbing ground strikes, if I'm reading it correctly. Nor about fixing that little Ghost problem they seem to be having in certain villages in the tribal territories. And life should become more interesting in that part of the world if Senator Biden's measure does not pass. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-04-18 09:45 |
| #1 ARGH!!! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-04-18 00:18 |