Thaindian News

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) – The U.S. transferred $288 million to the Government of Pakistan on Wednesday, reaffirming the U.S.’s commitment to reimburse Pakistan for some of the costs incurred while conducting counter-insurgency operations against extremist networks in the country.

This is in addition to the more than $1.2 billion in reimbursements already transferred to Pakistan this year by the U.S. government under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF). The fund was established by the United States in 2001 to support the 27 nations, including Pakistan, for some of the costs they would incur in the fight against extremist violence.

Since 2001, the U.S. has reimbursed Pakistan $7.4 billion for these costs. The last CSF reimbursement was delivered to Pakistan earlier this month, and included $656 million for validated CSF claims received from Pakistan in the year of 2009.

The U.S. has provided more than $11 billion to Pakistan in security assistance and CSF reimbursements since 2001. During the last three years, specific security assistance provided includes 14 F-16 fighter aircraft, 10 Mi-17 and two Bell 412EP helicopters, 5 fast patrol boats, 115 Howitzer self-propelled field artillery cannons, more than 450 vehicles for Pakistan’s Frontier Corps, hundreds of night vision goggles, day/night scopes, radios, and thousands of protective vests and first aid items for Pakistan’s security forces.

The U.S. also provided training for more than 370 Pakistani military officers in a wide range of leadership and development programs covering topics such as counterterrorism, intelligence, logistics, medical, flight safety, and military law.