Breakthrough development reported between Pakistan and US at the bilateral military front

WASHINGTON - Breakthrough development reported between Pakistan and US at the bilateral military front.

The US State Department has sought $72 million in its 2021 budgetary request from the Congress for resumption of Pakistan’s participation in a coveted US military training programme and other initiatives.

In January, President Donald Trump had authorised the resumption of International Military Education and Training (IMET) for Pakistan.

The decision to resume Islamabad’s participation in the IMET – for more than a decade a pillar of US-Pakistani military ties – underscores warming relations that have followed meetings this year between President Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to the department’s request, the IMET, improves “defence capabilities through professional military education and training, including technical courses and specialised instruction conducted at US military schoolhouses or through mobile education and training teams abroad”.

The department maintained that a total of $104.9 million was needed to strengthen military alliances and international coalitions critical to the US.

For South and Central Asia, the department has earmarked a total of $12.7 million out of $104.9 million. Pakistan will receive $3.5 million for the resumption of the IMET facility if the request is authorised by Congress.

India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, also priority recipients of the funds alongside Pakistan, are pegged to receive $1.5 million, $800,000 and $1.8 million respectively.