U.S. 'agrees' to pay Pak 1.18 bn dollars of CSF arrears

Washington -  The United States has reportedly agreed to reimburse 1.18 billion dollars, which is almost 75 per cent of the claims Pakistan has submitted as expenses incurred in the fight  against militants along the Afghan border, diplomatic sources have said.
 
The money comes from the U.S. Coalition Support Fund, which is used for reimbursing Pakistan and other allies helping the U.S. in its war against terror.

"They usually pay 75 per cent of the claims we put up, so 1.18 billion dollars is the deal," The Dawn quoted a Pakistani diplomat, as saying.

According to the paper, the approval shows that despite increased tensions, the U.S. financial assistance to Pakistan has continued although it is becoming increasingly difficult to get  congressional support for helping Pakistan.

Last week, Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. Sherry Rehman and her team persuaded Congressman David Dreier, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, to drop an amendment that  would have made it difficult to continue to provide financial assistance to Pakistan.

The amendment, moved by Congressman Ted Poe, sought a blanket ban on providing financial assistance to Pakistan from the funds earmarked for the next fiscal year.

This success brings only a temporary relief for Rehman and her team, as this week they will have to deal with yet another amendment moved by Congressman Ron Paul, which aims to strip

Pakistan of all American aid funds until they release Dr Shakil Afridi.

Dr Afridi was sentenced to 33 years of imprisonment by Pakistan after he was found 'guilty' of helping the Central Intelligence Agency track down Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. The U.S.  has strongly condemned the doctor's arrest.