Pakistan is deserving of more US aid

Pakistan has a right to ask for strong support from the global community as it works to fight Al Qaida and the Taliban.

However, a lingering hurdle to better relations with the United States is the continuing suspicion that the Pakistanis could have done more to fight the Taliban based in their country. There is no doubt that some parts of the Pakistani intelligence and military establishment saw the Taliban and other radical groups as a useful counterweight to Indian influence, but the action taken by the Pakistani army in the past year against the Taliban in areas such as Swat is clear for all to see.

However, more needs to be done and the joint security problems in Pakistan and Afghanistan mean that Nato, Afghan and Pakistani forces should work together. This is why the current visit to Pakistan by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is so important, as it makes clear that the US values the relationship with Pakistan, and wants to work closely with the country.

The United States has put its money where its mouth is. In addition to various security deals, the Americans are offering a five-year aid programme worth $7.5 billion (Dh27.6 billion) for Pakistan, which includes plans for two hydro-electric dams and renewable energy sources.

The aid package is part of Washington's attempts to counter anti-American sentiment in the country, but it has been delayed as the Obama administration changes the way that the money is disbursed, so that less goes to US contractors and more to local Pakistani companies.

The administration is right to make this change, since it allows the aid to fund better transfer of knowledge and skills, and leaves more capacity on the ground in the long run. However, these changes cannot be allowed to delay the implementation of the plan for too long.