Hillary Clinton: Pakistani aid for security

by Paul Richter

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today that the United States may provide as much as $110 million in aid to help Pakistanis who have been displaced by the government's attacks on militants in northwestern tribal areas.

Clinton, speaking at the White House, said U.S. relief officials already are on the ground in the Swat Valley evaluating the needs of the hundreds of thousands who have been driven from their homes since the government's offensive began earlier this month.

"Providing this assistance is not only the right thing to do, but we believe it is essential to global security and the security of the United States," she said. "And we are prepared to do more as the situation demands."

The announcement appeared to reflect, in part, the administration's concern that the government offensive, which was strongly urged by Washington, not turn into a humanitarian catastrophe that might turn ordinary Pakistanis against the counter-insurgency effort.

Pakistani forces have been using heavy artillery and aircraft to batter the militants, but the fighting also has sent columns of civilians fleeing the valley and catalyzed criticism of the government's tactics as heavy-handed.

U.S. officials urged Islamabad to begin the offensive after hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed through the valley, a beautiful mountainous area where many better-off Pakistanis spend their summers. The Taliban's offensive brought them within 60 miles of the capital of Islamabad, and brought warnings that the government itself could be imperiled.

Clinton said the aid workers were providing material such as tents, food, power generators and radios. The U.S. military is providing some water trucks, she said.

Clinton pointed out that the United States has provided $3.4 billion in aid to Pakistan since 2002 for humanitarian relief and other non-military purposes, including economic development and assistance with governance.

Photo of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the podium of the West Wing press briefing room today by Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images. According to the White House, the new aid for Pakistan breaks down this way:

• $20 million from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to provide family relief kits, tents, FM radios, and generators that will provide light and water.

• $26 million for the immediate purchase of wheat, other food, and related items from local sources.

• $17 million from Food for Progress for 50,000 tons of wheat arriving in May and June.

• $10 million to respond to forthcoming emergency appeals by the United Nations.

• $15 million for shipments of food items such as lentils, dried peas, and other basic foodstuffs.

• $12 million for an emergency response center for direct humanitarian needs.

• $10 million from the Department of Defense for water trucks, halal food, and large tents with environmental units, such as air conditioning, for hot weather.