Washington: The United States has released the consolidated aid figures under different heads for various South Asian countries, including $130 million for India, for fiscal 2005.

The consolidated figure specially allocates $ two million under "South Asia Regional Funds" to support a "Muslim Outreach Programme" which includes projects in India, "possibly" in Jammu and Kashmir, and other South Asian countries, the State Department said yesterday (Feb 12, 2004).

The special allocation is aimed at 460 million Muslim population in seven countries through small-scale health, employment generation, education and civil society projects.

Besides these, President George W Bush has requested for $ 700 million for Pakistan, $ 929.25 million for Afghanistan, $ 109.52 million for Bangladesh, $ 43.887 million for Nepal, $ 22.824 million for Sri Lanka and $ 175,000 for Maldives for the fiscal which will begin on October 1, 2004, it said.

About India, it said, "The United States continues to strengthen its strategic partnership with India, an emerging global power and the world's largest democracy."

The aid to Pakistan includes $ 300 million under Foreign Military Financing (FMF) against the estimate of $ 74.56 million for fiscal 2004. A strong US-Pakistan partnership, State Department said, "Remains critical to continued progress in the global war on terrorism and regional stability."