The Obama administration has proposed $860 million in aid for Pakistan, including $265 million for military hardware, which it said would help the country fight terrorists, secure nuclear weapons and improve ties with India. While there was no mention of Pakistan in President Barack Obama’s budgetary proposals, Secretary of State John Kerry in his proposals said the budget includes $859.8 million towards sustaining ties with Pakistan and making progress to “disrupt, dismantle and defeat violent extremist groups“.

Under the economic support fund (ESF) of the overseas contingency operations (OCO), the state department has proposed USD 400 million to Pakistan. The state department said this will support the US’s strategic objectives in the region, including combating terrorism and violent extremism and increasing security, growth and stability within Pakistan and the broader region.

Proposing USD 265 million under foreign military funding (FMF)— which mainly means providing military hardware, the state department said given the transition in Afghanistan and continued terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, it is essential to Pakistan’s efforts to increase stability on its western border and within the country.