United States State Department’s document released on Monday has revealed that the department, in its budget requests for International Military and Training (IMET) program, is seeking funds from Congress to resume its military education and training facilities for Pakistan to improve ‘bilateral cooperation’ with the country.
According to a news report published in DAWN, the State Department has sought a total of $104.9 million for its IMET program. Out of these $104.9 million, the department is seeking $12.7 million for training military officers from the South and Central Asian region, which includes $3.5 million for resuming this facility for Pakistan.
Although the request includes the entire South and Central Asian region, the department has classified Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal as “priority recipients”.
Following the USA’s request to Pakistan to play an effective role in Afghanistan peace process, President Donald Trump’s administration had approved the resumption of military education and training facilities for Pakistan in December 2019, saying that it was doing so to “improve bilateral cooperation on shared priorities”.
According to a news report published in DAWN, the State Department has sought a total of $104.9 million for its IMET program. Out of these $104.9 million, the department is seeking $12.7 million for training military officers from the South and Central Asian region, which includes $3.5 million for resuming this facility for Pakistan.
Although the request includes the entire South and Central Asian region, the department has classified Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal as “priority recipients”.
Following the USA’s request to Pakistan to play an effective role in Afghanistan peace process, President Donald Trump’s administration had approved the resumption of military education and training facilities for Pakistan in December 2019, saying that it was doing so to “improve bilateral cooperation on shared priorities”.