U.S. to release $1.6bn in military, civilian aid to Pakistan

A $1.6 billion aid boost to Pakistan will be released by the United States, the State Department said on Tuesday, before leaders of both countries were due to meet.

The bulk of the funding is made up of $1.38 billion in military aid, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said. The rest is $260.5 million in civilian aid.

Congress has been notified by the State Department that the funds already budgeted for in previous years including the fiscal year 2012 will be released, according to Agence France-Presse.