US triples development, military aid to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration may triple development aid to Pakistan while also boosting military assistance to secure more help in fighting the insurgency in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said on Friday. The official, who spoke on condition that he not be named because President Barack Obama has yet to unveil his fresh strategy on Afghanistan, said non-military assistance could rise to three times the current roughly $450 million a year. Military aid, now running at $300 million a year, could also rise, although by a lesser amount, the official added, saying that conditions could be attached to the defense funds but not to the development money. The steps aim to win greater Pakistani cooperation to address what is seen as a major weakness of the current U.S. approach in Afghanistan: the existence of safe havens in Pakistan from which insurgents launch attacks in Afghanistan. The fighting in Afghanistan is now at its most intense since a U.S. invasion seven years ago toppled the Taliban government that sheltered the al-Qaeda group behind the Sept.11 attacks on the United States.

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Troops convoy ambushed in Pakistan’s restive Swat Valley (Asia News Network)

A Pakistan security forces convoy was ambushed by unknown assailants near restive Sarsani area in Tehsil Kabbal in New Western Frontier Province Friday (March 20) afternoon in which the troops remaine …..

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Kiwi detainee released from Pakistan (NZPA via Yahoo!Xtra News)

New Zealander Mark Taylor has been released from detention in Pakistan and deported, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said today.

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Hospitalised artiste needs govt help

LAHORE: Composers, lyricists and singers bring together scattered souls while the composers are considered the key ones. Ustad Tasudaq Ali Khan is of

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National One-day Cup event resumes with round two

KARACHI: After the entire Group A was completed on Thursday in the 2008-09 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Cup National One-day Cricket Championship, the

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National Bridge off to a flying start

KARACHI: The battle between the top eight outfits got off to a cracking start in the National Bridge Championship that got underway here at the Aslam

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The parting gift CJ Dogar could not deliver

ISLAMABAD: Retired Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar wanted to hear 11 cases of his main defender, Justice (retd) Malik Muhammed Qayyum in the last two

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SL players counselled by guru after Lahore attack

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’’s cricketers on Friday wrapped up a post-trauma course of deep breathing and yoga taught by an Indian spiritual guru to overcome th

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Govt aims to enhance exploration, production

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Friday announced Petroleum Policy-2009, focussing on accelerating exploration and production ac

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Prince, Kallis tons put SA in charge

CAPE TOWN: Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis hit centuries as South Africa moved into a commanding position on the second day of the third Test agains

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