Combating Terrorism: U.S. Oversight of Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds; Congressional testimony

摘要

The United States has reimbursed Pakistan, a key ally in the global war on terrorism, about $5.56 billion in Coalition Support Funds (CSF) for its efforts to combat terrorism along its border with Afghanistan. The Department of Defense (Defense) provides CSF for costs incurred in direct support of U.S. military operations. Pakistan is the largest recipient of CSF, receiving 81 percent of CSF reimbursements. This testimony focuses on the following: (1) the extent to which Defense has consistently applied its guidance to validate the reimbursements claimed by Pakistan, and (2) how the Office of the Defense Representative to Pakistan's (ODRP) role has changed over time. This statement is based on a concurrently issued GAO report titled 'Combating Terrorism: Increased Oversight and Accountability Needed over Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds,' GAO-08-806 (Washington, D.C.: June 24, 2008). GAO recommends that Defense consistently implement existing oversight criteria, formalize ODRP's oversight responsibilities, and implement additional controls. Defense generally concurred with the recommendations but stated that the report lacked sufficient context, such as Pakistan's military contributions enabled by CSF and broad legal authority to dispense funds.