During her meeting in Islamabad with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged $103.5 million in U.S. support for the Government of Pakistan’s priority law enforcement and border security programs. This new commitment brings total support for these programs in 2009 to $147.2 million.
To underscore the U.S. commitment to building the capacity of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies, Secretary Clinton offered $37.5 million in new assistance to the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) Police and other law enforcement entities, including Levies from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The American contribution will support police training in areas such as leadership and human rights, the provision of commodities, and infrastructure support that will improve the capacity, mobility, and survivability of Pakistan’s police. This pledge follows a $9 million commitment made in July 2009 to train the NWFP Police Elite Force, to procure life-saving protective equipment and vehicles, and to rebuild and harden police stations in conflict-affected areas of the NWFP.
Secretary Clinton also announced the delivery of five additional Huey II helicopters, totaling $19.7 million, to the Ministry of Interior Air Wing. In addition, she announced $26 million in new funding for operations and maintenance support for the expanded fleet. Following the recent American contribution, the Air Wing now has 14 Huey-II helicopters and three Cessna Caravans. The U.S. Government has invested over $140 million in this aviation program since its inception in 2002.
The Secretary also reaffirmed U.S. commitment to Pakistan’s infrastructure development, announcing an additional $40 million contribution to build 87 additional kilometers of roads and bridges in the FATA and the NWFP. The United States has already provided $15 million for two road projects in the FATA. To date, the USG has built over 1,300 kilometers of roads in the FATA and NWFP, which have been accompanied by 1,000 small agriculture, water, and electric schemes. The road construction program has increased the geographic and economic mobility of Pakistan’s citizens and provided law enforcement access to previously inaccessible areas.
