http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\03\story_3-4-2009_pg1_1
Friday, April 03, 2009 US Senate okays $4bn increase in aid to Pakistan * Pentagon seeks $3bn in military aid over next five years * Money will be used to train and equip Pakistan Army WASHINGTON: The US Senate voted on Wednesday to boost aid to Pakistan by $4 billion next year. As the US lawmakers continued work on a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint for the upcoming fiscal year, Senator John Kerry, a Democrat, won adoption of a $4 billion increase next year in aid to Pakistan, a key ally in the war on terror. Earlier, the Associated Press had reported that the Obama administration plans to seek as much as $3 billion over the next five years to train and equip Pakistan's military and is considering sending 10,000 more troops to battle the Taliban in Afghanistan. In outlining the spending programme publicly for the first time, defence officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee it is critical to train and equip the Pakistanis so they have the skills and will to fight. With the administration's backing, their bill would provide $1.5 billion next year, linked to Pakistan's counterterror and democracy-building efforts, officials said. Defence and other administration officials spoke about the spending plans on condition of anonymity because the specific budget requests have not been released. Also on Wednesday, senators questioned Gen David Petraeus, who heads the US Central Command, and Undersecretary Michele Flournoy over the possible deployment of 10,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Petraeus said he had forwarded the proposed increase to the Pentagon. That plan could mean stationing almost 80,000 American forces in the country by next year. Currently 38,000 US troops are in Afghanistan. Lawmakers asked why the extra brigade and headquarters unit requested by Gen David McKiernan had not yet been approved by President Barack Obama. Flournoy said Obama is aware of the request, but was told he does not have to consider it until late this year because the additional troops will not be needed until next year. agencies