US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, announced on Tuesday that President Joe Biden has requested $101 million in aid for Pakistan.
This funding is aimed at supporting democracy, combating terrorism, and facilitating economic reforms in the country.
Lu, who was implicated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for allegedly influencing the toppling of his government in 2022, made this announcement before the American House of Representatives’ committee reviewing the US budget for South Asia.
The proposed funds are intended to stabilize Pakistan’s economy, which has been struggling despite securing a 37-month International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. This aid will also be used to provide debt relief and support economic reforms.
Lu emphasized that the financial assistance will help stabilize Pakistan’s economy, which faces significant challenges despite the recent IMF program that included increased taxes on agricultural incomes to boost government revenue and reduce the budget deficit.
Additionally, Lu voiced concerns about the rights of women and minority groups in Afghanistan, stating that normalization of relations with the Taliban government is contingent upon respecting these rights. He also called for the release of all American prisoners held by the Taliban.
Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Washington has provided over $17.9 billion in aid to the country, remaining the largest donor to Afghanistan amidst ongoing turmoil.