British PM denies cutting aid to Pakistan
By IANSThursday, January 21, 2010
LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Thursday denied claims by one of his ministers that Britain was cutting spending on counter-terrorism in Pakistan.
Counter-terrorism expenditure in Pakistan, and generally, is increasing this year and will increase next year, Brown said.
It is important to recognise our counter-terrorism effort is also linking up the efforts of our police forces here and our border control system, which is keeping the country as safe as possible, he added.
Foreign Office minister Glenys Kinnock told the upper house of parliament Wednesday that anti-terror programmes in Pakistan would be cut to plug a 110 million pound-hole in the foreign ministry budget.
Programmes in Afghanistan in counter-narcotics have been cut, capacity building to prevent conflicts in Africa, counter-terrorism and radicalisation in Pakistan, the list goes on, she said.
Kinnock Thursday clarified her remarks, saying spending on counter-terrorism will increase from 8.2 million pounds in 2009-2010 to 9.5 million pounds in 2010-11.
Pakistans High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Hasan said his government was unaware of any cuts.
