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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

White House seeks increase in military aid to Pakistan

Paul Richter Tribune Washington bureau

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration announced Friday it will seek another $2 billion in aid for Pakistan’s military, despite continuing disagreements with Islamabad over conduct in the war against militants.

The five-year package, which supplements $7.5 billion in civilian aid to Pakistan, would raise annual weapons aid to about $400 million a year, from $300 million. It is still subject to congressional approval, and won’t come up for consideration until next year, congressional sources said.

The announcement came at the end of a week of high-level meetings in Washington between U.S. and Pakistani officials, which were used to promote an image of harmony between the countries.

Behind the scenes, President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials were prodding Islamabad to move more forcefully against militant strongholds near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.

And while the administration touted the additional military aid, it also is moving to cut off assistance to a half-dozen Pakistani military units after concluding they killed unarmed civilians and prisoners, according to two U.S. officials.