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Trump regime suspends security aid to Pakistan
Context
The United States has suspended more than $1.15 billion security assistance to Pakistan ,accusing Islamabad of harbouring terror groups like the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network within its border and showing unwillingness to take “decisive actions” against them.
The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes days after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of providing “safe haven” to terrorists.
The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes days after President Donald Trump, in a new year tweet, accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the U.S. but “lies and deceit” and providing “safe haven” to terrorists in return for $33 billion aid over the last 15 years.
Foreign Military Funding (FMF) suspended
Prominent among the suspended amount include $255 million in Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for the fiscal year 2016 as mandated by the Congress.
Coalition Support Fund (CSF)
In addition, the Department of Defense has suspended the entire $900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) money to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017.
The U.S., she said, will not be delivering military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless it is required by law.
New South Asia policy
Referring to the new South Asia Policy announced by Trump in August, Nauert said despite a sustained high-level engagement by this administration with the government of Pakistan, the Taliban and the Haqqani Network continue to find sanctuary inside Pakistan as they plot to destabilise Afghanistan and also attack the US and allied personnel.
Funds suspended
The National Defense Authorisation Act 2017 provides up to $900 million for Pakistan in CSF.
Of these funds, $400 million can only be released if the Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis certifies that the Pakistan government has taken specific actions against the Haqqani Network.
No decision
No decision has been taken on the fate of $255 million security assistance to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017.
The deadline for that is September 30 this year.
US civilian assistance programs will continue
However, the suspension does not include US civilian assistance programs in Pakistan.
