US-PAK-FUND 2 LAST

Welcoming the passage of the bill, House of
Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said it provides for
the continued responsible redeployment of US troops out of
Iraq, and refocusses America's efforts on countering al-Qaeda
and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

House Majority Leader, Steny H Hoyer, said the bill sets
clear goals and timelines for progress in Afghanistan and
funds and trains the Afghan and Pakistani security forces for
counter-insurgency.

It also enhances accountability by requiring the
Administration to closely track all defence articles provided
to Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.

"One of the gravest threats to our national security is
nuclear proliferation. That is why this bill expands
counter-proliferation programmes within the Departments of
Defence and Energy, including the Cooperative Threat Reduction
Programme," he said. PTI