News
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
US, Pakistan sparred over military billing: report
* Washington has quietly rejected more than 40 percent of over $3.2 billion in claims submitted by Pakistan
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: The United States and Pakistan have been sparring over Islamabad’s claims for financial compensation for military operations against militants, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
The report comes as relations between the two anti-terror allies have frayed following the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in a US commando operation launched without Islamabad’s knowledge.
The newspaper, citing internal Pentagon documents, said Washington has quietly rejected more than 40 percent of over $3.2 billion in claims submitted by Pakistan for military gear, food, water, troop housing and other expenses.
The claims in question were filed from January 2009 through June 2010.
Citing the documents and US officials, the Journal said Pakistan had routinely submitted requests that were unsubstantiated, or were deemed by the US to be exaggerated or of little or no use in the war on terror—underscoring what officials and experts see as a deep undercurrent of mistrust between the supposed allies.
In one case, the Pakistani Army sought $50 million for “hygiene and chemical expenses,” of which Washington agreed to pay just $8 million, the Journal said.
Pakistan’s Joint Staff—the country’s top military brass—requested $580,000 in 2009 to cover food, medical services, vehicle repair and other expenses, but the US paid nothing.
In another case, the United States paid millions to refurbish four helicopters to help Pakistan transport troops to the rugged mountains along the Afghanistan border where it is battling Taliban and al Qaeda militants.
But Pakistan diverted three of the aircraft to peacekeeping duties in Sudan, operations funded by the United Nations, the Journal said, citing US officials.
“This is about how much money Pakistan can extract,” said Moeed Yusuf, South Asia adviser for the United States Institute of Peace.
The billing spat has exacerbated tensions between the countries, which reached a nadir after the US raided the compound of Osama bin Laden without informing Pakistani authorities.
On Monday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry in Islamabad said the US wants to hit ‘the reset button’ to warm relations between the countries.
Pakistani officials deny they are trying to bilk the US and say the increased American scrutiny has sent the message to the Pakistanis that Washington considers the army to be full of cheats.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk