Pakistan disappointed by US aid cut plan

Pakistan

Pakistan disappointed by US aid cut plan

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Pakistan expressed disappointment Tuesday over US plans to freeze $700 million in aid.

13 December,2011 08:14 pm

However, Pakistan said it could cope without the cash.The conditions were unveiled by US House and Senate negotiators on Monday in a compromise military spending bill expected to be passed this week.It is most unfortunate and untimely, the chairman of Pakistans senate committee on foreign affairs, Salim Saifullah Khan, told AFP.The bill comes with the fragile American-Pakistani alliance at an all time low since November 26 air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border in what Pakistan called a deliberate attack.The measure would freeze roughly $700 million in aid to Pakistan pending assurances that Islamabad has taken steps to thwart militants who use improvised explosive devices against US-led forces in Afghanistan.I think we will survive without aid, but it is most unfortunate to see these things after 31 years of sacrifices by Pakistan, said Khan.Pakistan shut its Afghan border to US supplies on November 26 and ordered American personnel out of the Shamsi air base, widely reported to have been a hub in a CIA drone war against militants, in response to the strikes.However, Khan did not rule out a thaw in US relations.There is always a room for improving relations and cooperation and Pakistan wants friendly relations with everyone, Khan said.Washington earlier this year suspended about a third of its $2.7 billion annual defence aid to Pakistan, but assured Islamabad it is committed to a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian assistance package approved in 2009. --AFP