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US cuts aid to Pakistan for HR record
WASHINGTON: The United States has reduced aid to Pakistan in the current
fiscal year to $300 million on grounds that Islamabad has “failed to do
enough” to improve democracy and human rights.
US aid to Pakistan last year was $550 million. According to the
appropriations bill approved yesterday by the House of Representatives by
a 373-34 vote, the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Fund for Pakistan for
2007 was also cut by $100 million to $200 million.
The bill specifically cited the “increasing lack of respect for human
rights, especially women’s rights, and the lack of progress for improving
democratic governance and rule of law” as chief reasons for reducing
Pakistan’s funds.
However, the Foreign Office said the House of Representatives had approved
the budget presented by the US government with some reduction, which had
caused the cut in aid to Pakistan. It said the US Congress had applied a
similar cut in last year’s budget, but the US government had subsequently
restored allocation. 12.6.06
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