Washington, Feb. 5: U. S. President George W. Bush has sought a financial assistance of 830 million dollars for Pakistan.

In a statement, the White House said this aid was being sought from the U. S. Congress is to “sustain our strategic partnership with Pakistan.”

The US assistance focuses “on security, economic development, and combating terrorism in Pakistan’s western frontier regions, the White House said.

Bush also has requested $1.1 billion to “help build a stable Afghanistan.”

Last month, Bush authorised Defence Secretary Robert Gates to provide “with the concurrence of the Secretary of State,” 75 million dollars worth of equipment, supplies and training to “build the capacity” of the Frontier Corps.

The United States is also considering a proposal to increase the presence of US Special Forces on Pakistani soil in support of the Frontier Corps.

Adm Eric T. Olson, head of Special Operations Command, visited Pakistan last fall and included a stop at the Frontier Corps headquarters. The US troops, however, will only provide counter-insurgency training to Pakistani troops, particularly those from the Frontier Corps, the Dawn reported. (ANI)