Report: U.S. to increase help for Pakistan

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Washington • The U.S. plans to increase aid to Pakistan in response to complaints from Pakistani officials that Washington doesn't understand their security priorities or offer enough help, according to The Washington Post.

Under the plan, decided in the White House's Afghanistan war review last month, the U.S. will offer more military, intelligence and economic support. The Obama administration also plans to intensify efforts to forge a regional peace despite frustration that Pakistani officials aren't doing enough to fight terrorist groups in the country's tribal areas, according to the report.

The decision is set to be delivered by Vice President Joe Biden during a visit to Pakistan next week, the Post said, citing unidentified administration officials. Biden is expected to meet with military chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani and other top government leaders.

Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Biden "is a friend of Pakistan … and has been supportive of Pakistan's point of view."

The vice president is expected to challenge the Pakistanis to articulate a long-term strategy for the region and specify what assistance they need to move successfully against Taliban safe havens bordering Afghanistan.