U.S. to continue military aid

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 16

U.S. to continue military aid

NZPA-Reuter Karachi

The United States will continue its role in developing Pakistan’s military capability after Pakistan’s return to democracy, the United States Ambassador, Mr Robert Oakley, said.

"Over the last seven years, the increasingly close United States military relationship with Pakistan has placed an important role in the development of this military capability,” Mr Oakley said.

“We will continue to do so, alongside the People’s Republic of China and other countries, upon whose strong support Pakistan can count in the event of a confrontation,” he told the privately run Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. The United States became Pakistan’s closest ally during the 11-year rule of President Zia-ul-

Haq, who died in a plane crash last August. It has given generous economic and military aid to Pakistan to help it face the threat it felt from the Soviet military presence in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Mr Oakley said November’s general election had provided the incoming Government of the Prime Minister, Mr Benazir Bhutto, with a mandate to make the hard decisions needed to “increase revenues, accelerate productivity, reduce corruption, provide more social services and consolidate popular support.” “In the next four years, the United States will help strengthen Pakistan in these areas by continuing to provide economic aid at roughly the same high levels,” he said. But he said any nuclear development for military purposes would prohibit American aid to Pakistan.