Rawalpindi: Chief of Army Staff has informed that the often quoted figure of US $ 13-15 billion utilised by the Pakistan Army in last ten years is misplaced.
Chairing the 139th Corps Commanders Conference at the General Headquarter Rawalpindi on Thursday General Kiyani said that under the head of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), against a total sum of US $ 13 billion expected from the US, only US $ 8.6 billion have been received by the Government of Pakistan.
He quoted the figures reconciled by the Ministry of Finance said that the government further made available only US $ 1.4 billion to the Army over last ten years. A relatively smaller amount has gone to Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force as well.
COAS said that the rest i.e. approximately US $ 6 billion have been utilised by the Pakistani government for budgetary support which ultimately means the people of Pakistan.
The participants noted with regret that despite briefing the Joint Session of the Parliament and deferring the ultimate findings to the Commission appointed by the government, some quarters, because of their perceptual biases, were trying to deliberately run down the Armed Forces and Army in particular.
This is an effort to drive a wedge between the Army, different organs of the State and more seriously, the people of Pakistan whose support the Army has always considered vital for its operations against terrorists.
Army has drastically cut down the strength of US troops stationed in Pakistan. It needs to be clarified that Army had never accepted any training assistance from the US except for training on the newly inducted weapons and some training assistance for the Frontier Corps only. Even that has ceased now.
The Forum was informed by the COAS that economic rather than military aid was more essential for Pakistan. In line with the position taken in Pak-US strategic dialogue in Mar 2010, it is being recommended to the Government that the US funds meant for military assistance to Army, be diverted towards economic aid to Pakistan which can be used for reducing the burden on the common man.
The COAS said that we should collectively work to strengthen the democratic institutions of the country instead of supporting any particular political party. He said general effort to create divisions between democratic institutions is not in our national interest.
General Kiyani informed the Forum that military to military relationship with the US has to be assessed afresh in the backdrop May 2 incident as well as the dictates of the Joint Parliamentary Resolution passed on 14th May 2011.
While reviewing the internal security situation, the participants echoed their reservations on the blowback of the Abbottabad incident which has resulted in the upsurge in terrorism. It was decided that all law enforcement agencies, though trying their best to cope with the situation, need to be more focused and proactive and Army will be there to extend all possible assistance.
COAS noted that in order to face the present challenges, it is critical to stand united as a Nation. Any effort to create divisions between important institutions of the Country is not in our national interest.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription