Under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) category, the U.S. maintained $280 million in military aid to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2015 beginning in October 2014.
Given the ongoing transition in Afghanistan and continued terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets throughout Pakistan, FMF is essential to Pakistan's efforts to increase stability in its western border region and ensure overall stability within its own borders, the Department said.
“The $280 million Pakistan requests will enhance the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Air Force, and Navy's ability to conduct counter insurgency (COIN) and counter terrorism (CT) operations against militants throughout its borders and will improve Pakistan's ability to deter threats emanating from those areas, and encourage continued U.S.-Pakistan military-to-military engagement,” the State Department said.
The OCO supports a robust diplomatic presence and critical assistance programmes to support the government and its people following Pakistan's first democratic transition.
“These funds will help facilitate increased stability and prosperity in this strategically important nation and will enable us to sustain a presence necessary to achieve essential strategic priorities of eliminating terrorism and enhancing stability in Pakistan and the region following the transition in Afghanistan,” the State Department said.
Pakistan lies at the heart of the U.S.' counter terrorism strategy, the peace process in Afghanistan, nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and economic integration in South and Central Asia, it said.
