He warned that if the funds required were not provided to the military it would be forced to ‘reprioritise’ its options, possibly affecting Pakistan’s cooperation in the war on terror.

The PAC was discussing the accounts of defence services for 2007-08 at a meeting chaired by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Lt-Gen Ali told the meeting that armed forces’ personnel remained heavily engaged in operations in Malakand division and South Waziristan which required an uninterrupted supply of funds.

“During my recent meeting with US defence secretary, I raised the issue of delays in release of money under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), telling him that in the absence of necessary support we won’t be able to maintain high level of cooperation,” he said.

After a lot of bickering some funds were finally released under the CSF, he said.

The CSF pertains to expenditures incurred on the troops’ food, clothing, transportation, communications and medical care, besides helicopter operations and repair and maintenance of equipment.

Answering questions, the defence secretary said the armed forces demanded Rs530 billion for the next financial year. However, the government agreed to provide only Rs488 billion, forcing the security establishment to dig into development funds and other reserves set aside for contingencies and emergencies.

At this, Auditor-General Tanvir Ali Agha said it wasn’t possible for the government to meet budgetary estimates proposed by every government department.

“Here come in good financial practices. You people have to readjust your priorities according to the funding available,” he said.

Chaudhry Nisar said the so-called war on terror had been imposed on the poor nation, “turning everything into a mess”.