Obama Increases Pakistan Drone Strikes as Relations Sour

By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan

President Barack Obama has ordered a sharp increase in drone strikes against suspected terrorists in Pakistan in recent months, anticipating the CIA may soon need to halt such operations in Pakistan’s territory, two U.S. officials said.

His decision reflects mounting U.S. frustration with Pakistan over a growing list of disputes — mirrored by Pakistani grievances with the U.S. — that have soured relations and weakened security cooperation. The U.S. is withholding at least $3 billion in reimbursements for counterinsurgency operations and security-related funding, according to congressional aides and Pakistani officials.

“We are reaching the limits of our patience, and for that reason it’s extremely important that Pakistan take action” to crack down on armed groups based there that attack American and coalition forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said yesterday in Kabul. ….

Read more » Bloomberg

Pakistan – Rs. 110 billion increase in defense budget!!?!

Govt projects Rs 110bn increase in defence budget

* Consolidated expenditures of federal, provincial govts to increase by Rs 33bn

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: The government has projected an increase of Rs 110 billion in the defence budget and informed the International Monetary Fund that according to the post-flood situation, the defence budget will be Rs 552 billion against the budgetary allocation of Rs 442 billion for the ongoing fiscal year 2010-11.

This increase in the defence budget has been projected by the government at a time when development and non-development budgets of the civil government are being slashed by 50 percent and 20 percent respectively to create fiscal space for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected population. …

Read more >> Daily Times