NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the US government to reimburse the 1.6 billion dollars that Pakistan spent on fighting extremism in the tribal areas.
The United States pays Pakistan for the anti-extremist operations from a special account called the Coalition Support Fund. Pakistan has not been paid for more than a year.
President Zardari made this demand in two separate meetings with US officials including special envoy Richard Holbrooke.
President Zardari also called for an early realisation of about six billion dollars pledged to Pakistan in the Tokyo conference early this year where international donors promised to help Pakistan overcome its economic crisis.
The President also sought an early adoption of the Kerry-Lugar Bill that may bring in another 1.5 billion dollars of annual US assistance over a period of five years. — DawnNews
