- Lu says the US is focused on supporting human rights in Pakistan.
- Funds to be used to combat terrorism and support the economy: Lu.
- Lu expresses concern about the rights of women and minorities in Afghanistan.
US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden has requested $101 million in aid for Pakistan to support democracy and human rights in the country.
Lu, who has been blamed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for toppling his government in 2022, made the remarks before a US House of Representatives committee, which was convened to discuss the US budget for South Asia.
The deputy secretary said the funds would be allocated to combat terrorism, support economic reforms and provide debt relief.
Lu stressed that this financial assistance is aimed at stabilising Pakistan's economy, which is in serious trouble even after the government secured a 37-month long programme from the International Monetary Fund.
Looking ahead, she also expressed concern about the situation of women and minority groups in Afghanistan, noting that relations with the Taliban government cannot be normalized until the rights of Afghan citizens are respected.
The senior State Department official also demanded that the Afghan Taliban release all American prisoners in their custody.
The United States remains the largest donor of aid to impoverished Afghanistan nearly three years after the Taliban seized Kabul as the last American troops completed a chaotic withdrawal following a 20-year war with the Islamist militants.
Since the US withdrawal was completed on August 30, 2021, Washington has provided more than $17.9 billion in assistance to Afghanistan.
