Team of US auditors arrive in Pak to examine claims under CSF

ISLAMABAD - A team of 31 US auditors have arrived in Pakistan to examine claims under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) amounting to 1.9 billion dollars.

Pakistan has so far received 700 million dollars of the 2.6 billion dollars claimed under the CSF over the last two years, and is claiming another 1.2 billion dollars under the aid.

Pakistan has long been demanding an early release of the funds, however, the Obama Administration had made it clear that it would release the remaining amount only after being assured of positive use of the financial package.

The US has also linked the delay in the disbursement of funds to Pakistan’s denial to grant visas to American auditors.

Arm-twisting Pakistan over the delay in issuing visas to its auditors, the United States had told Islamabad that the remaining payment under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) would only be released after the American officials get their visas.

“The CSF programme is linked to audits. We have some legal requirements (to fulfil before the release of payments). This should qualify what the CSF is meant for. It was an agreed procedure,” US deputy secretary of treasury Neal Wolin had said earlier.

Following Washington’s stern stand, Islamabad had assured it that it will expedite the process of granting visas to the American auditors. (ANI)