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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Aid for Pakistan in terror fight | Aid for Pakistan in terror fight |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The United States and Japan have each pledged $1bn (£671m) to Pakistan so far at an international donors conference. | The United States and Japan have each pledged $1bn (£671m) to Pakistan so far at an international donors conference. |
| The meeting, in Tokyo, is to help Pakistan stabilise its economy amid fears that financial woes could lead to increased support for militant groups. | The meeting, in Tokyo, is to help Pakistan stabilise its economy amid fears that financial woes could lead to increased support for militant groups. |
| About 40 countries and organisations are represented at the meeting. | About 40 countries and organisations are represented at the meeting. |
| The Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso, has said that ensuring stability in Pakistan is key in the fight against terrorism in the southwest Asia region. | The Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso, has said that ensuring stability in Pakistan is key in the fight against terrorism in the southwest Asia region. |
| Analysts have suggested that a total of up to $6bn might be pledged at the meeting. | Analysts have suggested that a total of up to $6bn might be pledged at the meeting. |
| We lose, you lose | We lose, you lose |
| Pakistan is home to militant groups, many in the lawless northwestern areas bordering Afghanistan. | Pakistan is home to militant groups, many in the lawless northwestern areas bordering Afghanistan. |
| "Without stability in Pakistan, there is no stability in Afghanistan either," Mr Aso said when opening the conference. | "Without stability in Pakistan, there is no stability in Afghanistan either," Mr Aso said when opening the conference. |
| "Stability in border areas is a key and I want to stress that the international community supports comprehensive strategies by the two nations," he said. | "Stability in border areas is a key and I want to stress that the international community supports comprehensive strategies by the two nations," he said. |
| Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari spoke of his fear that the world does not fully realise the extent of threats facing his country. | Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari spoke of his fear that the world does not fully realise the extent of threats facing his country. |
| The donor conference is the first of its kind for Pakistan | The donor conference is the first of its kind for Pakistan |
| "We are willing to fight. Despite the fact that I lost the mother of my children, I have taken up this challenge," said Mr Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. | "We are willing to fight. Despite the fact that I lost the mother of my children, I have taken up this challenge," said Mr Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. |
| "I am hoping, and with all humility, asking of the world to help us fight this tremendous challenge, which not only do we face, but it doesn't end on my border," he said. | "I am hoping, and with all humility, asking of the world to help us fight this tremendous challenge, which not only do we face, but it doesn't end on my border," he said. |
| "If we lose, you lose. If we lose, the world loses," he said. | "If we lose, you lose. If we lose, the world loses," he said. |
| Down-payments | Down-payments |
| The donors' meeting is supported by the World Bank and attendees include China and Saudi Arabia. | The donors' meeting is supported by the World Bank and attendees include China and Saudi Arabia. |
| The US pledge of $1bn was described as a down-payment on the previously announced $1.5bn already promised to Pakistan for each of the next five years. | The US pledge of $1bn was described as a down-payment on the previously announced $1.5bn already promised to Pakistan for each of the next five years. |
| Separately, a $7.6 billion bailout has been granted by the International Monetary Fund to avert the country's most recent balance-of-payments crisis. | Separately, a $7.6 billion bailout has been granted by the International Monetary Fund to avert the country's most recent balance-of-payments crisis. |
| But Pakistan has resisted international pressure to tax the small landowning elite where most political power resides. | But Pakistan has resisted international pressure to tax the small landowning elite where most political power resides. |
| Economic growth is expected to slow to between 2.5% and 3.5% for the year to June 2009, a rate considered too slow to find jobs for Pakistan's population of 170m. | Economic growth is expected to slow to between 2.5% and 3.5% for the year to June 2009, a rate considered too slow to find jobs for Pakistan's population of 170m. |