The Hindu : Troops: U.S. offers debt relief to Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 19, 2003

International

International

Troops: U.S. offers debt relief to Pak.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Sept. 18. With a view to nudging Pakistan on sending troops for Iraq, the Bush administration has earmarked $200 millions in its second war budget by way of Islamabad's debt reduction.

The U.S. President, George W Bush, has formally sent his request to Congress for the $87 billions he is now asking for Iraq operations.

The package is said to include an additional $1.4 billions to "reimburse Pakistan, Jordan and other key cooperating nations" for logistics and military support they are providing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Bush administration has made no bones of the fact that it would like countries like Pakistan to send troops to Iraq as a part of stabilisation process. Washington apparently wants Islamabad to contribute at least 10,000 troops.

The idea was formally raised this June when the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, was received in a high profile fashion at Camp David.

Gen. Musharraf had apparently come up with many conditions, including financing troops for any deployment.

The Republican administration has been heaping praise on Pakistan's contribution to the fight against global terror; especially since September 11, 2001.

Pakistan first landed a package of about $3 billions in assistance and debt write offs in the aftermath of 9/11; and this June the administration came up with another $3 billions over a five-year period that will be equally divided between economic and military assistance. This aid — to be approved by Congress before each instalment — will come in annual tranches of about $600 millions.

Though the administration has said that the new package agreed on this June is conditional to cooperation on terrorism, proliferation and forward movement in internal democracy, critics and law-makers believe that Washington has literally been looking the other way for fear of getting on the wrong side of Gen. Musharraf.

Next week, Mr. Bush will be meeting Gen. Musharraf on the sidelines of the United Nations session in New York; and a week after that he will play host to the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the White House.

While for the record it will be said that the range of issues will be pursued at these meetings, Mr. Bush will certainly press Gen. Musharraf and Mr. Jamali on troop contribution.

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