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Pakistan to bill US for war support (MUCHO BARF ALERT)
THE TIMES OF INDIA ^ | FEBRUARY 18, 2002

Posted on 02/17/2002 1:31:49 PM PST by Madiuq

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will begin charging the United States about $60 million a month for logistical support it has provided to the war on terrorism, the finance minister said after a trip to Washington.

Shaukat Aziz said late Saturday that Pakistan was "in the process" of billing Washington $300 million for support through the end of January.

After that, Pakistan will issue monthly bills that will average $60 million, Aziz said.

"We will bill them monthly for certain things under the acquisition and cross-services agreement," Aziz said.

Pakistan will charge for fuel, food, water, transportation, medical services, repairs and other services provided to US forces, who have been engaged in neighboring Afghanistan since early October.

Pakistan broke ranks with Afghanistan's hardline Taliban and sided with the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, blamed on Afghan-based Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Aziz also said that during his trip to Washington with President Pervez Musharraf, George W. Bush's administration pledged to write off $1 billion of Pakistan's $2.8 billion loan debt to the United States.

The United States has since September 11 promised Pakistan an aid package worth more than $1 billion, $600 million of which has already been delivered.


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To: AM2000
Well India respects the United States, and will not do anything the US doesn't want it to do. Plus the now permanent US bases in Pakistan will prevent India from taking Pakistan out should the terrorism continue.

India is only one country, with no ideological allies in the region. Everyone over there is either Islamic (there are 25 Islamic nations backing Pakistan) or Communist (China, North Korea, etc).

India is by itself. It needs the United States as an ally.

41 posted on 02/17/2002 2:49:21 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: AM2000
"See, your question betrays the most basic flaw with the current Indian leadership - they feel the need to be allowed to do things. They throw tantrums when the U.S. disapproves. If you guys feel the need to defend yourself, just do it. What is the deal with this constant gazing at big brother for his approval? It's demeans you, and gives us less reason to respect you."

So now who has a "cowboy" mentality? Do you really think India could attack Pakistan when the US has built a permanent base there? Or are you just spewing for the sake of hearing yourself talk?

The US building of permanent bases is tantamount to an insurance policy to protect Pakistan from India. What assurance is the US giving to India, that the bloody terrorism and proxy wars in Kashmir and all around India by Pakistan will cease?

42 posted on 02/17/2002 2:53:51 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: Madiuq
Well India respects the United States, and will not do anything the US doesn't want it to do.

That's not respect, that's servility.

Plus the now permanent US bases in Pakistan will prevent India from taking Pakistan out should the terrorism continue.

Yes, it will. So you're saying we should therefore give security guarantees to India? Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Perhaps India should seek out other allies. Or be prepared to go it alone. Bottom line, if India is not prepared to do whatevers necessary to protect its survival, then there's no reason to expect anyone to respect them.

It needs the United States as an ally.

Pleading does not become a sovereign nation that seeks to be seen as a regional superpower. When India stops demeaning itself, maybe then the world will stop demeaning her.

Do you really think India could attack Pakistan when the US has built a permanent base there?

If you assume India can not, then you're pre-emptively accepting defeat. Once India shows that it is willing to take on Pakistan regardless of an American presence, you may see a change in the environment. But as things stand right now, our boys are in Pakistan, and India is openly unwilling to do anything to Pakistan while they're there. This gives Musharraf a blank check to do pretty much anything he wants. Change the assumptions, and the game changes.

43 posted on 02/17/2002 3:12:09 PM PST by AM2000
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: AM2000
"Once India shows that it is willing to take on Pakistan regardless of an American presence, you may see a change in the environment."

India will never attack U.S. interests. Are you encouraging war between India and the United States?

45 posted on 02/17/2002 3:22:05 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: Madiuq
Funny. No, I am not. What I'm saying is, India whines too much. Your posts are a good example.
46 posted on 02/17/2002 3:24:41 PM PST by AM2000
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To: AM2000
When are you going to realize the fallacy of your positions? India and the United States have an immense amount in common, including, but not limited to, both:


(1) are constitutional republics;
(2) are thriving democracies;
(3) speak English as their lingua franca in both commerce and legal systems;
(4) have a three-pronged governmental make-up (executive, judicial, and legislative);
(5) are technologically progressive and sound;
(6) are threatened by Chinese Communism;
(7) are threatened by Islamic Fundamentalism;
(8) are capitalist;
(9) threw off British colonial rule;
(10) are secular;
(11) are multi-religious;
(12) are multi-ethnic;
(13) are pluralistic;
(14) have thriving entertainment industries (see, Hollywood and Bollywood);
(15) enjoy freedom of speech and expression (see, the thousands of Indian newspapers, each with their own opinions and agendas); and
(16) have bickering partisan politics in their respective Congressional and Senatorial bodies.

And you are going to tell me it is in America and Israel's best interest to foment disputes between these two great nations?

Pakistan is a blood leech on our collective financial resources, as well as on our diplomatic reserves.

47 posted on 02/17/2002 3:34:38 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: AM2000
"India whines too much."

It seems that everytime India stops "whining," some high level government official starts hemming and hawing about how Pakistan and the United States are the "best of friends," and "strategic allies."

All of that spells gloom, doom, more terrorism, more death, and more instability for India.

I really don't blame India at all.

48 posted on 02/17/2002 3:37:00 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: Madiuq
Do we provide monetary aid to pakistan?
49 posted on 02/17/2002 3:55:39 PM PST by Britton J Wingfield
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To: Madiuq
The US is paying Pakistan for the strategic real estate. It's the "monthly billing" demand that stinks, which until now was a desperate plea for aid.

Mushrraf was heaped praise but got little else, whereas we're giving India sophisticated defense technology and weapons systems.

Personally, I think Pakistan doesn't deserve the huge aid in addition to "payments" to clean up it's own house. It wouldn't be so bankrupt if it hadn't spent its handouts on the Islamic bomb and propping up the Taliban. You're right, if Musharraf hadn't down a U with Taliban and Al Qaida, we'd probably be selectively bombing Pakistan!

Because it is an indispensable "ally" right now, it is getting the handout. Besides, Powell's got a general-to-general thing going on with Musharraf. In time, it will be dispensable. They know it, we know it.

50 posted on 02/17/2002 3:55:46 PM PST by mikeIII
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To: Madiuq
How about if we just drop Daisy Cutters on them instead?
51 posted on 02/17/2002 4:35:05 PM PST by lormand
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To: Madiuq
It seems to me that Pakistan was two inches away from getting blown off the map, just like their brothers in the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and by the graces of the United States, they were spared a horribly and fiery death.
You're Hindu, aren't you? You sound the part. Fine with me, if you are..

The US could never forget the support that Pakistan has provided throughout the cold war.

This is no cause to barf. Pakistan is still important in US foreign policy, as recently forgotten but inevitably realized again.

I seem to remember that Pakistan has a billion bucks held up in already paid but undelivered US fighter jets. Can we puke about that a little?
52 posted on 02/17/2002 5:39:31 PM PST by a_Turk
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To: Madiuq
Without Pakistan's help we'd still be sitting around TALKING about what we should do to retaliate against OBL. Relative to what we got, we got off pretty cheap.
53 posted on 02/17/2002 5:40:38 PM PST by powderhorn
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To: a_Turk
So, genius, with your "policies" which embraced Pakistan and shunned India, forcing them into the arms of the Soviets (bet you would like to see that happen again, huh?) would you then like to take responsibility for the over 80,000 innocent civilian deaths in India? How about the 3,000 Americans killed at the WTC and the Pentagon? What about the Indian parliament attacks?

The list of Pakistani atrocities is limitless.

As far as I am concerned, all bets are off with Pakistan when they decided to engage in genocide against innocent people, and with their jihad against civilization.

54 posted on 02/17/2002 5:53:42 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: Madiuq
Thanks for calling me a genius, but I am nothing compared to you, since you are incomprehensible.. Incredible... Far out.

Also, I am not as smart as you, as I am in favor of peace in the region, without war. You of course have better simpler plans... Sire...
55 posted on 02/17/2002 6:00:48 PM PST by a_Turk
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To: a_Turk
"You're Hindu, aren't you? You sound the part."

Your personal attacks on me are futile and hollow coming from the likes of you. You are an Islamic traitor, and puppet of the U.S., are you not? You sound the part. Turks have no moral authority to speak of, as they are hated (or laughed at) by every nation because of their "cave in" mentality and cruel and unusual history. At least India has the bollocks to stick to its convictions, and not become an opportunistic, untrustworthy a-hole of a country like yours, that will prostitute itself out to the highest bidder.

56 posted on 02/17/2002 6:02:58 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: a_Turk
"as I am in favor of peace in the region, without war."

I am also for peace in the region. But there can be no peace as long as Pakistanis continue to murder and terrorize innocent Indian citizens.

India has always stood for peace. They gave Pakistan their country, carved painfully out of India, hoping they would be satisfied and go away. It did not help. Next the Indians gave them the ideology of Gandhi, a pacifist. It did not work.

Eventually a nation runs out of cheeks to turn.

57 posted on 02/17/2002 6:08:41 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: Madiuq
At first I thought you were Indian, but then, if you were Indian you would be glad that Musharrif has turned away from terrorism and is trying to better educate his country. It would make for a safer India.

The fact that you are anti-Musharrif makes it far more reasonable that you sympathize with the terrorists.

Musharrif has shown a tremendous amount of courage in this matter, he's put his very life on the line in order to drag his country out of poverty and ignorance.

58 posted on 02/17/2002 6:10:24 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: McGavin999
I just don't trust Pakistan. They are two-faced snakes. And I guess you are too dumb to see that.
59 posted on 02/17/2002 6:12:50 PM PST by Madiuq
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To: McGavin999
"At first I thought you were Indian, but then, if you were Indian you would be glad that Musharrif has turned away from terrorism and is trying to better educate his country."

There are plenty of Indians and Indian-Americans (Probably almost a billion people) that agree with me, and not you.

What, are they all wrong? You are one arrogant SOB to do that.

60 posted on 02/17/2002 6:15:24 PM PST by Madiuq
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