Canada's expanded aid to Pakistan to help fight terrorism: theglobeandmail

Campbell Clark
Ottawa — From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Canada will expand aid to Pakistan, notably to bolster the weak public school system that has left a void to be filled by fundamentalist madrassas, as Ottawa increasingly views the country's stability as key to success in Afghanistan.
In Pakistan Wednesday, International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda pledged $25-million for food, water and emergency shelter for refugees who fled a Pakistani military offensive against Taliban insurgents four months ago.
Many of the more than 2 million people who left their homes in the Swat Valley in April are returning. But the huge numbers of refugees have placed a strain on local resources, and reconstruction efforts will be costly.
“They're rebuilding police stations, judiciary, making sure that power is available, water is available, gas is available,” said Ms. Oda, who visited the Jalozai Internally Displaced Persons camp Tuesday.
In addition to the $25-million in emergency aid, Canada will expand its longer-term development assistance to Pakistan, Ms. Oda said, as it joins other countries in linking success against the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan – the largest single recipient of Canadian aid – with stability in Pakistan.

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