U.S. aid will help friendly countries in South Asia make financial systems transparent and reduce the risk of falling into China's debt trap. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs briefing the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Washington - US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lowe, says that the US and Pakistan will continue to promote democracy and human rights in their important war against terrorism. While speaking about the fiscal year 2025 budget before the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, he said that the US is in South Asia to advance its goals in the Indo-Pacific region. Investing additional resources.
Donald Lowe said President Joe Biden has requested more than $580 million in aid for South Asia in fiscal year 2025, which is 4.4 percent more than in fiscal year 2023.
8 percent is more. He told the committee that this aid would help America's friendly countries in the region to make the financial system transparent and reduce the risk of these countries falling into China's forced debt trap.
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Donald Lowe said that for the fiscal year 2025, President Biden has requested to allocate more than 100 million dollars in aid to Pakistan. It will be used to help with economic reforms and debt management to combat and stabilize the country's economy and curb its further dependence on China.
The Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for South and Central Asian Affairs said that the United States in Pakistan is constantly facing challenges and opportunities in relations. We are fighting an important struggle in South and Central Asia. is to combat disinformation and prevent terrorist groups from posing a threat to our security, and we are grateful for the resources Congress has provided for this work.
Donald Lowe said he realizes he lives in a world of budget constraints, with President Joe Biden's fiscal 2025 budget request for the region amounting to $1.01 billion for the region. There is foreign aid, which is actually a nine percent decrease compared to the previous fiscal year. Referring to the US priorities, US State Department Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lowe said that our first priority is partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
China is seeking to gain a military and commercial foothold in the Indian Ocean. Our most effective strategy to counter a strong China is to demonstrate that we have something better to offer. Better growth opportunities, better trade. There are better solutions for deals and their security challenges.
He told the US House of Representatives committee that our second priority is to build on the president's meeting with Central Asian leaders at last year's C5+1 summit in New York to address the economic impact of Russia's attack on Ukraine and China. Increasing U.S. trade and investment and expanding economic opportunities in Central Asian countries will help curb irregular migration to the U.S.
Talking about Afghanistan, Donald Lowe said that in Afghanistan we continue to emphasize our deep concern about the situation of women, girls, and minority groups. Rights will not be respected and no significant steps will be taken towards normalizing relations. He said that the American government has been demanding the Taliban release all the American citizens who are currently in the custody of the Taliban.
We are directing additional resources to South Asia to advance our Indo-Pacific goals he said. The funds will strengthen the US in the Indo-Pacific Quad to provide maritime security, disaster relief, and quality infrastructure investment to partner countries in the Pacific. Help reduce the risk of forced loans.
The US Department of State's assistant for South and Central Asian affairs said that we are investing in the countries of Central Asia to reduce the intense pressure of Russia and China and to increase the resilience of these countries. The budget requests $220.7 million. Our request will allow us to maintain strong levels of assistance to support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of our Central Asian partners as Russia continues to withdraw Central Asian personnel. Efforts would include support for border security and counterterrorism programs and in the areas of job training and professional development, a US House of Representatives subcommittee was told. has been heard and in response, US aid has been tightened.
He said that for Afghanistan, the US President has requested a budget of 104 million dollars, which is 12 percent less than the fiscal year 2023. An important goal of this budget is to help Afghan women, girls, and minority groups, for whom the Taliban Still restricting human rights Donald Lowe made clear that US administrative controls and restrictions on aid to Afghanistan are among the toughest in the world No US or foreign aid goes to or through the Taliban All US aid goes to UN Delivered by United Nations agencies, international NGOs, US NGOs, and trusted implementing partners for Afghans in need.
