27 February,2009 05:45 AM IST | | PTI
In a bid to address the rise of Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, US President Barack Obama's maiden budget presented in the Congress have proposed more military aid to the two countries.
US military aid to Pakistan has remained a matter of intense discussion, however, the Congressmen this time are pitching to increase non-military aid by linking it with Islamabad's success in fight against terrorism.
The budget also seeks to increase the non-military aid. When asked about the move at the Pentagon briefing, Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said: "I think it's very important that we help resource them and develop this comprehensive strategy with Pakistan over a number of years.
I'm delighted to see that kind of support in the '10 budget." The budget also proposes increasing non military aid to Afghanistan. "External challenges include undertaking a responsible drawdown of troops from Iraq and focusing the appropriate resources on achieving US objectives in Afghanistan," said the section of the budget related to the Defence Department.
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State Department budget also calls to increase non- military aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan to revitalise economic development and confront the resurgence of the Taliban.
