Washington: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday said the generous civilian aid to Pakistan would continue despite the uneasy relationship with Islamabad as disengagement with it was not an option for the US.
"As our commanders on the ground will attest, it is critical to our broader strategy that civilian assistance continues in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Disengaging now would undermine our military and political efforts and the national security interests of the US," she said in remarks accompanying a status report on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"The civilian surge in Afghanistan and Pakistan that President (Barack) Obama launched in 2009 to accompany the military surge in Afghanistan has helped advance our goals of defeating al-Qaeda, reversing Taliban's momentum in key areas, and bolstering the economy and civil society of both countries," she said.
"As US troops begin a phased drawdown in Afghanistan as part of the larger plan for transition, our civilian initiatives in both Afghanistan and Pakistan are assuming new importance," she said.
The 23-page 'Status Report: Afghanistan and Pakistan Civilian Engagement' that was submitted to the Congress on Thursday provides a thorough review of US civilian efforts, identifies significant challenges and areas of progress, and outlines the way forward.
In its report, the State Department acknowledges that America's relationship with Pakistan is not always easy, but it is vital to its national security and regional interests.
The US will continue to provide civilian aid to Pakistan, which has come down from $ 1.5 billion in the 2010 fiscal year to $ 1.1 billion this year.
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