US Could Offer Military Aid to Pakistan

The US is expected to offer $2bn over five years in military aid to Pakistan in a move to restore their crisis-prone relationship.

A three-day strategic dialogue led by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, which culminates on 22 October, will also discuss the framework for security assistance.

The package will be under the American foreign military financing (FMF) programme to help Pakistan purchase weapons and defence equipment such as helicopter gunships and communication equipment produced in US.

The new package is in addition to the five-year, $7.5bn package approved by the US Congress last year, according to the Hindustan Times.

Pakistan’s army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, will also take part and hold talks at the Pentagon.