SAARI NEWS

Web Desk

WASHINGTON: A US-based newspaper calimed that PEntagon would reimburse Pakistan nearly $700 million for the cost of stationing 140,000 troops on the border with Afghanistan, in a bid to nomalize support for the Pakistan Armed Forces after nearly two years of crises and mutual retaliation.

Pentagon had earlier this month quietly notified this to the Congress.

Senator Joh Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts is the main proponent of putting foreign aid and military reimbursements to Pakistan on a steady footing. President Barack Obama is expected to tap him as the next secretary of state, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper says the US also provide abuot $2 billion in annual security assitance, roughly half of which goes to reimburse Pakistan for conducting anti-terrorism operatoins.

The papers said the US's reimbursements, called coalition support funds, were held up until now in par because of disputes over the Bin Laden raid and Pakistan's decision to block supply lines into Afghanistan last year.

The $688 million payment, the first since this summer, will cover food , ammuntion and other expenses from June through November 2011. The Pentagon bid was met with but a nominal resistance at Capital Hill ever since it was sent on Dec. 7. - SAMAA/ AGENCIES