InfoAnda - Billions in US aid never reached Pakistan army

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Support for Australian government tumbles after disasters | 7 February 2011
Suicide blast, gunfire in Kabul: officials | International | | 11 February 2009
BofA, JPMorgan, Wells form JV for online banking services | | 25 May 2011

Afghan peace talks end with no headway, more expected | | 31 March 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Billions in US aid never reached Pakistan army

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Billions in US aid never reached Pakistan army By KATHY GANNON,Associated Press Writer - Monday, October 5 Send IM Story Print ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The United States has long suspected that much of the billions of dollars it has sent Pakistan to battle militants has been diverted to the domestic economy and other causes, such as fighting India. Now the scope and longevity of the misuse is becoming clear: Between 2002 and 2008, while al-Qaida regrouped, only $500 million of the $6.6 billion in American aid actually made it to the Pakistani military, two army generals tell The Associated Press. The account of the generals, who asked to remain anonymous because military rules forbid them from speaking publicly, was backed up by other retired and active generals, former bureaucrats and government ministers. At the time of the siphoning, Pervez Musharraf, a Washington ally, served as both chief of staff and president, making it easier to divert money intended for the military to bolster his sagging image at home through economic subsidies. "The army itself got very little," said retired Gen. Mahmud Durrani, who was Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. under Musharraf. "It went to things like subsidies, which is why everything looked hunky-dory. The military was financing the war on terror out of its own budget." Generals and ministers say the diversion of the money hurt the military in very real ways: _Helicopters critical to the battle in rugged border regions were not available. At one point in 2007, more than 200 soldiers were trapped by insurgents in the tribal regions without a helicopter lift to rescue them. _The limited night vision equipment given to the army was taken away every three months for inventory and returned three weeks later. _Equipment was broken, and training was lacking. It was not until 2007 that money was given to the Frontier Corps, the front-line force, for training. The details on misuse of American aid come as Washington again promises Pakistan money. Legislation to triple general aid to Pakistan cleared Congress last week. The legislation also authorizes "such sums as are necessary" for military assistance to Pakistan, upon several conditions. The conditions include certification that Pakistan is cooperating in stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, that Pakistan is making a sustained commitment to combating terrorist groups and that Pakistan security forces are not subverting the country's political or judicial processes. The U.S. is also insisting on more accountability for reimbursing money spent. For example, Pakistan is still waiting for $1.7 billion for which it has billed the United States under a Coalition Support Fund to reimburse allies for money spent on the war on terror. But the U.S. still can't follow what happens to the money it doles out. "We don't have a mechanism for tracking the money after we have given it to them," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Wright said in a telephone interview. Musharraf's spokesman, retired Gen. Rashid Quereshi, flatly denied that his former boss had shortchanged the army. He did not address the specific charges. "He has answered these questions. He has answered all the questions," the spokesman said. Musharraf took power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and resigned in August 2008. The misuse of funding helps to explain how al-Qaida, dismantled in Afghanistan in 2001, was able to regroup, grow and take on the weak Pakistani army. Even today, the army complains of inadequate equipment to battle Taliban entrenched in tribal regions. For its part, Washington did not ask many questions of a leader, Musharraf, whom it considered an ally, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report released last year. Pakistan has received more money from the fund than any other nation. It is also the least expensive war front. The amount the U.S. spends per soldier per month is just $928, compared with $76,870 in Afghanistan and $85,640 in Iraq. Yet by 2008, the United States had provided Pakistan with $8.6 billion in military money, and more than $12 billion in all. "The army was sending in the bills," said one general who asked not to be identified because it is against military rules to speak publicly. "The army was taking from its coffers to pay for the war effort _ the access roads construction, the fuel, everything. ... This is the reality _ the army got peanuts." Some of the money from the U.S. even went to buying weapons from the United States better suited to fighting India than in the border regions of Afghanistan _ armor-piercing tow missiles, sophisticated surveillance equipment, air-to-air missiles, maritime patrol aircraft, anti-ship missiles and F-16 fighter aircraft. "Pakistan insisted and America agreed. Pakistan said we also have a threat from other sources," Durrani said, referring to India, "and we have to strengthen our overall capacity. "The money was used to buy and support capability against India." The army also suffered from mismanagement, Durrani said. As an example, he cited Pakistani attempts to buy badly needed attack helicopters. Pakistan asked for Cobra helicopters because it knows how to maintain them, he said. But the helicopters were old, and to make them battle-ready, the Pentagon sent them to a company that had no experience with Cobras and took two years, he said. As a result, in 2007, Pakistan had only one working helicopter _ a debilitating handicap in the battle against insurgents who hide, train and attack from the hulking mountains that run like a seam along the Afghan-Pakistani border. The army was also frustrated about not getting more money. Military spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas said the U.S. gave nothing to offset the cost of Pakistan's dead and wounded in the war on terror. He estimated 1,800 Pakistani soldiers had been killed since 2003 and 4,800 more wounded, most of them seriously. The hospital and rehabilitation costs for the wounded have come to more than $25 million, Abbas said. Pakistan's military also gives land to the widows of the dead, educates their children and provides health care. "These costs do not appear anywhere," he said. "There is no U.S. compensation for the casualties, assistance with aid to the grieving families." Even while money was being siphoned off for other purposes on Pakistan's end, the U.S. imposed little control over or even had specific knowledge of what went where, according to reports by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The reports covered 2002 through 2008. The reports found that the Pentagon often ignored its own oversight rules, didn't get adequate documents and doled out money without asking for an explanation. For more than a year, the Pentagon paid Pakistan's navy $19,000 a month per vehicle just for repair costs on a fleet of fewer than 20 vehicles. Monthly food bills doubled for no apparent reason, and for a year the Pentagon paid the bills without checking, according to the report. Daniyal Aziz, a minister in Musharraf's government, said he warned U.S. officials that the money they were giving his government was being misused, but to no avail. "They both deserved each other, Musharraf and the Americans," he said. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Aid push to villages wiped out by Indonesia quake Reuters - Monday, October 5 Latest typhoon kills 16 in northern Philippines AP - Monday, October 5 Lavish welcome for Chinese premier in Pyongyang AP - Monday, October 5 Traditions fade as China settles nomads in towns AP - Monday, October 5 Billions in US aid never reached Pakistan army AP - Monday, October 5 News Search Top Stories IMF takes on bigger role, seeks more funds BAE Systems could still reach deal on corruption case Argentine folk legend Mercedes Sosa dead at 74 T-Rex fails to impress Las Vegas bidders Berlusconi's Fininvest hit with 750 mln euro payment More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins T-Rex fails to impress Las Vegas bidders Polanski agreed to pay victim 500,000 dlrs to end suit: report Four-winged dino may be missing link in bird debate Mechanical giants cheered at celebration of German unity More Most Viewed » Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Monday, 5 October 2009
Palestinians slam Abbas over UN Gaza report delay
BAE Systems could still reach deal on corruption case
Berlusconi visits Sicily after landslide kills 23
Welcome to Hawaii Pacific Teleport
Top US adviser doesn't see Taliban returning to power
Pakistan has forces, equipment for Taliban assault: U.S. | International |
Head of UN nuclear watchdog sees Iran cooperation
Argentine folk legend Mercedes Sosa dead at 74
Gaza woman freed in last step of soldier-video swap
Fatah and Hamas eye truce deal, but hurdles remain | International |
IAEA to inspect Iran's Qom site October 25
Last known rebel leader disarms in Nigeria's delta | International |
Five hurt in south Yemen protests: reports | International |
Adviser downplays threat of renewed al-Qaida haven
Devices locate kids, parents find peace of mind
Yale lab tech due in court to face murder charge
White House sees progress from talks with Iran
Fires char wildland in Calif., Ariz.
Greenspan says unemployment will top 10 percent
Ex-Ala. judge accused of trading sex for leniency
6 members of Supreme Court attend Catholic Mass
Report: 13 million babies worldwide born premature
Aid push to villages wiped out by Indonesia quake
GOP senator silent on whether Ensign should stay
Latest typhoon kills 16 in northern Philippines
Lavish welcome for Chinese premier in Pyongyang
Traditions fade as China settles nomads in towns
Billions in US aid never reached Pakistan army
NKorea open to nuclear talks: state media
North Korea's Kim woos visiting China Premier
Chinese premier meets Kim Jong Il on NKorea visit
Report: Seized NKorean ship allowed to leave India
Quake jolts south Philippines; no injury reports
Fans feast on undead as `Zombieland' opens to $25M
'Zombieland' top destination at box office | Entertainment |
Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa dies aged 74
Nick Hornby brings middle-age mindset to new works
Mannequins hit by discrimination -- and loss of face
Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa dies at 74 | Entertainment |
Author Coetzee eyes Booker triple, Mantel favorite
Nick Hornby brings middle-age mindset to new works | Entertainment |
Saudi fires cleric who criticised mixed university
Mother in plea to Elton John over adoption plan
China vows to stand by isolated North Korea | International |
Major report details India's infant mortality crisis
Eight US troops die in one of worst Afghan battles
Tensions in Jerusalem after new Al-Aqsa clashes
Some schools reopen in quake-hit Indonesia city | International |
Bomb at Pakistani U.N. office, 2 dead: police | International |
Abbas faces uproar over deferred war crimes vote
Berlusconi visits Sicily after landslide kills 23
13 million premature births worldwide: US charity
Nobel guessing game at fever pitch
Passenger train derails in Thailand, 5 dead: report | International |
Fuel truck explodes near Baghdad airport
Typhoon turns back, dumps rain on northern Philippines | International |
IMF takes on bigger role, seeks more funds
Support for Japan's PM above 70 percent: media | International |
Support for Japan's PM above 70 percent
Tiger rescued from poacher's trap in Malaysia
3 dead, 4 seriously injured in NY speedboat crash
SKorea seized suspected NKorean cargo containers
T-Mobile USA kicks off corporate Wi-Fi push | Technology |
Landslides in Myanmar kill 3
Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100
China, NKorea reaffirm relations
China vows to stand by North Korea
Government report questions rescue claims
Samoans join in prayer after tsunami
Schools hold class in tents after Indonesia quake
Hatoyama support at more than 70 percent: poll
Britain offered Libya funds to end IRA support: report
California fires force thousands to evacuate
At least seven dead as Thai train derails: police
Peg Mullen, author of "Unfriendly Fire," dies
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 774
Reggae artist says NYC man slashed him with sword
Neighbors: Accused Andrews stalker kept to himself
S.Korea c.bank ready to act to check won's rise
Banks, tech plays send Seoul shares down 2.3 pct
Heavy rains hold up search for bodies in Indonesia
Multitasker Beyonce thrives on hectic pace
IMF takes on enhanced global role
Neighbors: Accused Andrews stalker kept to himself
British supermarket chain shelves Fox News: report
Country's Luke Bryan doing his thing with new album
U.S. Prudential mulls sale of South Korean units
CORRECTED: U.S. Prudential mulls sale of South Korean units
Broadway performance canceled when actor falls ill
Korea Hot Stocks
Kiwi dollar higher than govt expected
Tight security, recession dampen Munich beer fest: city
Seoul shares fall after U.S. data;Hana Fin tumbles
Linkin Park frontman resurfaces with side project
Taiwan LCD makers eye China as leverage against rivals
Rock band Cartel mounts comeback after MTV failure
Carrie Fisher journeys through showbiz celebrity
Canada music labels combine to take on U.S. market
Lady Gaga to tour without Kanye West | Entertainment |
Multitasker Beyonce thrives on hectic pace | Entertainment |
Arrested Development movie script in works | Entertainment |
Still a long way to the top for rapper MC Wale | Entertainment |
Social Distortion road-testing new songs on tour | Entertainment |
Linkin Park frontman resurfaces with side project | Entertainment |
Rock band Cartel mounts comeback after MTV failure | Entertainment |
Iraq's joint Kurd, Arab, US patrols face big hurdles
Dairy farmers bring Brussels to a standstill
New Afghan vote rules may ensure Karzai victory | International |
US-TECH Summary
US trio win Nobel Medicine Prize for research on ageing
Brazil switches roles with helping hand for IMF
Sample audit in Afghan vote gets under way
Vonage unveils mobile app for iPhone, BlackBerry
IT to generate 5.8 million new jobs by 2013: IDC
Suicide bomber kills at least 6 at Iraqi funeral | International |
Cutting child mortality 'cheap and achievable'
T-Mobile USA kicks off corporate Wi-Fi push
India floods leave 2.5 million homeless, 250 dead | International |
Victorious F1 driver Vettel now looks to Brazil
Kenya leaders deny delay on post-election reform | International |
Training, drug use major issues for Afghan police
UK ministers' Pakistan terrorism talks: officials
Greek Socialists work on cabinet with big majority | International |
Taliban under attack in area where U.S. soldiers killed | International |
Suicide bomber kills 5 at UN office in Pakistan
Microsoft's Ballmer says Web search buys unlikely | Technology |
The nation's weather
Five dead as suicide blast hits UN Islamabad office
Vonage unveils mobile app for iPhone, BlackBerry | Technology |
President Obama continues health care push Monday
Al-Qaeda number two 'vows to kill Westerners'
China, North Korea laud ties on scrutinized visit
Swine flu vaccine arriving, but don't line up yet
Bomber kills 5 at Pakistani U.N. food office
Analysis: Campaign vow meets harsh Afghan reality
Sarkozy urged to tell Kazakhstan to improve rights
India floods leave 1.5 million homeless: officials
UN closes offices in Pakistan after attack
Exiled Uighur leader Kadeer invited to New Zealand
Japan Post bosses 'must resign by end-October'
Indonesia calls off rescue efforts in quake-hit city
Peace eludes victims of East German secret police
Mazda to raise $1.1 bln, forecasts smaller loss
Japan's Mazda cuts loss forecast
Rain, landslides threaten Indonesian quake victims
Mittal 'may pull $20 bln India steel plant plan'
Edison Chen in 1st movie since sex photo scandal
Japan's Mazda forecasts smaller loss
Filipinos cling to their Christian faith during crisis
"Arrested Development" movie script in works
FACTBOX-S.Korean officials' comments on property boom
GRAPHICS-S.Korea c.bank getting tough on property boom
Author Coetzee eyes Booker triple, Mantel favorite | Entertainment |
South Korea's c.bank ready to clamp down on housing boom
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01