Report: U.S. Ready To Increase Help To Pakistan

Vice President Biden will visit Pakistan next week

A U.S. news report says the Obama administration is planning to offer more military, intelligence, and financial support to Pakistan in a bid to strengthen efforts to bring stability and peace to the region.

"The Washington Post" report, quoting unnamed U.S. officials, says Vice President Joe Biden will discuss the proposed aid during a trip to Pakistan next week.

The report says Biden plans to challenge military chief General Ashfaq Kayani and other Pakistani officials to explain their long-term strategy and to indicate exactly what assistance is needed to make further gains against Taliban sanctuaries in areas bordering Afghanistan.

The report also says President Barack Obama and his top national security aides have rejected proposals from some military and intelligence officials that U.S. ground forces should be permitted to conduct raids against insurgent safe havens in Pakistan.

The report says U.S. officials don't want to alienate Pakistan.

with agency reports