Much of US war on terror aid to Pak may have been wasted: CRS

Washington, Dec.18 (ANI): A new report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has said that much of the amount paid to Pakistan as part of 'key co-operating nations' in war on terror, as reimbursements may have been wasted.

"A large proportion of the 6.7 billion dollars paid to Pakistan since 2001 by the United States as Coalition Support Funds (CSF) funds may have been lost to waste and mismanagement, given a dearth of adequate controls and oversight," the report said.

The Pentagon report shows that more than nine billion dollars have been authorised for financial years 2002-09 in Coalition Support Funds (CSF) for 'key co-operating nations' out of which 6.7 billion dollars were allotted to Islamabad alone.

The amount is equal to about one-quarter of Pakistan's total military expenditures, the Daily Times reported.

US Congress had appropriated billions of dollars to reimburse Pakistan and other nations for their operational and logistical support to US-led counter-terrorism operations. These funds account for the bulk of US financial transfers to Pakistan since 2001, the report said.

Analysts are of the view that standard accounting procedures were not employed in overseeing such large disbursement from the US treasury.

"CSF payments have been used to support scores of Pakistani army operation and to help some 100,000 troops in the field in northwest by paying for their food, clothing, and housing. They also compensate Islamabad for ongoing coalition usage of Pakistani airfields and seaports," said US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said.

Meanwhile, United States has initialised steps to control the mismanagement. Senior Pentagon officials have taken steps to overhaul the process through which reimbursements and other military aid is provided to Pakistan.

It is also estimated that there will be a sharp decline in CSF payments to Pakistan, due to the recent attacks on the truck terminals containing supplies for NATO and US forces deployed in Afghanistan. (ANI)