Day: September 21, 2013
Reshaping Afpak aid
In the next 15 months, the US presence in South Asia will be drastically reduced, with profound consequences for regional governments and Washington’s aid programs. The future of brittle economies and political structures could hinge on effective support from the international community, including the US.
Those themes emerged on Thursday afternoon at the Middle East Institute’s panel discussion on how US aid and development programs can contribute to the stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan following the withdrawal of US combat forces from Afghanistan. The panel included Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow with the Center for 21st Century Security at Brookings; Polly Nayak, an independent consultant; Ambassador Robin Raphel, the US coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan; and Alex Thier, the assistant to the administrator for policy, planning, and learning at USAID. The Middle East Institute’s Dr. Marvin Weinbaum moderated the panel.
Following the withdrawal of foreign combat forces from Afghanistan, the US government will reprioritize and reallocate aid to the region. While a main objective of US aid programs in the two countries is to win the hearts and minds of the people, Nayak said, the US government should refocus development priorities based on a new set of goals. Corruption has plagued foreign assistance programs in this region, she said, and that must be addressed if the Obama Administration expects to win support for its policies. Read more
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