GHAZI AIR BASE, Pakistan: The United States will increase its aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan to $150 million, US Senator John Kerry said Thursday, stressing that Washington did not want extremism to increase on the back of the crisis.
The floods have affected 20 million people and 1/5 of the country.
Aid groups and the United Nations have complained foreign donors have not been quick or generous enough given the scale of the disaster.
The United States has deployed army helicopters to hard hit areas as part of a package worth $90 million.
John Kerry, who is visiting Pakistan to see the flood damage, said that aid would increase to $150 million. The figure is expected to be announced at a UN general assembly meeting in New York on Thursday.
Pakistan is vital for America's strategic goals in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Washington has already committed to spending $7.5 billion over the next five years in the country.
Recovering from the floods is likely to dominate the agenda of Pakistan's government in coming months.
The state has been criticised for failing to respond quick enough, and religious charities — at least one of which has alleged links to terrorism — have been active in the flood-hit areas. There are also concerns the extent of the suffering could stoke social unrest and lead to political instability.
Kerry told reporters ''we don't want to additional jihadists, extremists coming out of a crisis.''
He was speaking after meeting US military personnel taking part in helicopter relief missions.
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