US Defence Department has said that President Barack Obama sent to Congress earlier in the day a proposed defense budget of $613.9 billion for 2013 that is to begin in October. The Pentagon said that the budget represents a shift in defence priorities and spending cuts. According to the Pentagon, the request includes $525.4 billion in discretionary budget authority to fund base defence programmes and $88.5 billion war fighting expenses, primarily in Afghanistan. The budget request applies a strategic guidance released earlier this year to force structure and investment.
The defence strategic guidance, “Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defence,” shifts US defense priorities to the Asia Pacific region and promises to reduce planned spending by $259 billion over the next five years and $487 billion over 10 years. “This budget plan represents a historic shift to the future, recognising that we are at a strategic point after a decade of war,” Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said. The $88.5 billion in war fighting expenses was $26.6 billion below the 2012 enacted budget of $115.1 billion.
The Pentagon said the proposed budget reflects the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq in December 2011, as well as savings due to operational progress in Afghanistan and the transition to Afghan responsibility for security. The defence budget request is made against a backdrop of drastic spending cuts across the board. The administration said those levels are consistent with the Budget Control Act, which mandates the federal budget cuts, but did not reflect sequesters that are set to take effect in 2013 if Congress cannot identify the cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act. The sequestration mechanism would cut over a trillion dollars in spending evenly between civilian and defense programmes.
Karzai to push for access to Pakistan-based Taliban leaders
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will press Pakistan to provide access to senior Afghan Taliban leaders when he visits Islamabad this week in a bid to advance a nascent peace process with the militant group, senior Afghan officials said Tuesday. “We hope that Pakistan will arrange a purposeful meeting between us and so that we find a solution to our own problems,” said one Afghan official, emphasizing hopes of direct talks with Taliban leaders belonging so the so-called Quetta Shura.
“Pakistan has paid little attention to our concerns and the level is cooperation has not been sincere or honest so far.” Pakistan has consistently denied giving sanctuary to insurgents and denies the existence of any Quetta Shura, or leadership council.