WASHINGTON, June 9 (APP): U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday sought congressional support for $ 700 million for Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund for the fiscal year 2010 as part of a massive $ 130 billion request for overseas contingency operations for Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

“This program will be carried out with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and will complement existing and planned State Department efforts by allowing the CENTCOM commander to work with Pakistan’s military to build counterinsurgency capability,” he said, testifying before the defense subcommittee of the Senate appropriations panel.

Gates told lawmakers that the Pentagon is seeking funding both the PCCF and the Foreign Military Financing program and “asking for this authority for the unique and urgent circumstances we face in Pakistan for dealing with a challenge that simultaneously requires military and civilian capabilities.”

“This is a vital element of the President’s new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy,” he added.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman US Joint Chiefs Staff, appearing jointly with the Defense Secretary, said Pakistan is crucial to the US  success in Afghanistan.

“We are taking multiple approaches to rebuild and strengthen relationships and address threats common to both of our nations.  One key approach in the near term is to help Pakistan’s military to improve its overall “and specifically its counterinsurgency” capabilities.  Beyond the trainers we will continue to provide, the Pakistani Counterinsurgency Capability Fund and Coalition Support Funds provide us the means to address this issue directly, and I ask the Congress to support these initiatives and provide the flexibility to accelerate their implementation.”