Posted on 02/17/2002 12:34:59 AM PST by Madiuq
Pakistan will begin charging the United States about 60 million dollars a month for logistical support it has provided to the war on terrorism, the finance minister said after a trip to Washington.
Shaukat Aziz said late Saturday that Pakistan was "in the process" of billing Washington 300 million dollars for support through the end of January.
After that, Pakistan will issue monthly bills that will average 60 million dollars, Aziz said.
"We will bill them monthly for certain things under the acquisition and cross-services agreement," Aziz said.
Pakistan will charge for fuel, food, water, transportation, medical services, repairs and other services provided to US forces, who have been engaged in neighbouring Afghanistan since early October.
Pakistan broke ranks with Afghanistan's hardline Taliban and sided with the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, blamed on Afghan-based Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.
Aziz also said that during his trip to Washington with President Pervez Musharraf, George W. Bush's administration pledged to write off one billion dollars of Pakistan's 2.8 billion-dollar loan debt to the United States.
The United States has since September 11 promised Pakistan an aid package worth more than one billion dollars, 600 million dollars of which has already been delivered.
... and payments are overdue for services rendered in reorganizing our madrasas, rehabilitating the unemployed Taliban, purchasing supplies from North Korea and China. Current charges for tracking down your citizen Pearl will appear in next month's bill. A pleasure doing business with you, Uncle Sam." < /sarcasm>
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