Obama cautions Pak on Afghan border security

Washington, Jan 21: Barack Obama, who took oath as the first-ever African-American President on Wednesday, Jan 21 cautioned Pakistan that it would be responsible for security along the Afghan border. Also he said that the US financial aid to Pakistan will depend on the way it would tackle terrorism.

"President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will increase non-military aid to Pakistan and hold them accountable for security in the border region with Afghanistan," the White House said in its foreign policy agenda document released soon after Obama occupied the Oval office.

Joe Biden, who was earlier Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee was a known expert in matters of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Biden had introduced legislation in the US Senate in this regard.

Republican Senator, Richard Lugar and the legislation have jointly decided to triple non-military aid to Pakistan in the next five years.

The legislation has decided to authorise $7.5 billion over five years in aid for development purposes such as building schools, roads and clinics.

Co-authored jointly by the Republican Senator, Richard Lugar, the legislation proposes to triple non-military aid to Pakistan in the next five years. The bill also calls for greater accountability on security assistance, to improve Pakistani counter terrorism capabilities and ensure more effective efforts against the Taliban and al Qaeda.

The foreign policy agenda of the Obama Administration on Pakistan is in tune with the well known policies of Biden, which was also echoed by the Secretary of State-designate, Hillary Clinton during her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee early this month.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)