Under a programme to strengthen its presence in Pakistan, the US would bring about 1,000 personnel, including a large number of Marines.
In a controversial move which has created ripples in Islamabad, the Obama administration has decided to spend around $1 billion from its $2.4 billion war supplemental package for Pakistan on the construction and strengthening of its new embassy in the capital and additional staffing of the mission.
According to well placed diplomatic circles, under a programme to strengthen its presence in Pakistan, the US would bring about 1,000 personnel, including a large number of Marines. Washington has undertaken a project to rebuild and refurbish the embassy building and construct accommodation for the new staff and a massive complex for the Marines. The US plan to reinforce its presence in Pakistan means stationing of more American military and intelligence personnel in diplomatic guise.
More worrying for Pakistan is that the US will be spending Pentagon money in a clear departure from the usual practice of using state department finances for such projects. Pakistani intelligence circles describe the upcoming American structure in Islamabad as a ‘super embassy’ rivalling only the American mission in Baghdad.
A breakdown of the war supplemental package shows that $707 million has been earmarked for economic assistance, $700 million for counter-insurgency, $896 million for the US embassy and consulates and $46 million for enhanced diplomatic operations covering logistics for civilian staff surge and security. Economic assistance will include $225 million for displaced persons. A scrutiny of the trumpeted aid package shows that the Pakistani government, after subtracting the assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs), will be getting a mere $482 million and some improved counter-insurgency capacity.
US embassy officials in Islamabad defend the Obama administration’s move saying it has been necessitated by the tripling of aid for Pakistan. According to an embassy spokesman, the Obama administration needs the capacity to disburse money and exercise oversight. Asked about the clubbing of the cost for the new embassy and associated logistics with the war supplemental aid package, the spokesman said it was because of legislative procedures on Capitol Hill. “That’s how the legislative system works in Washington”, he said.
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