US to set ‘benchmarks’ for aid to Pak

US will establish 'benchmarks' and set 'conditions' for Pakistan for proposed tripling of aid to Islamabad and military assistance to help it fight terrorists.

United States on Tuesday said it would establish “benchmarks” and set “conditions” for Pakistan for the proposed tripling of the civilian aid to Islamabad and military assistance to help it fight terrorists.

“I think you would expect when the US taxpayer is providing money – assistance to a country,that we want to make sure that we’re not only getting our money’s worth but that certain things that we care about,we want to see that they be dealt with,” State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

“So we have said,we will provide and would like to provide USD 1.5 billion over a five-year period to Pakistan,but,clearly,we want there – we are going to establish benchmarks. We want to see certain standards and goals met,” Wood said.

“That’s something you would expect that we would we would be willing do,” Wood said in response to a question.

The US-Pakistan relations have strained in recent times as Islamabad and Washington have differences over number of issues including drone attacks in NWFP and India’s enhanced role in Afghanistan.

Pakistan also went ahead to implement the “peace deal” with the Taliban in the Swat Valley against the wishes of the Obama Administration.