US Suspending Security Aid to Pakistan

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert

Washington, MINA — The United States confirmed it was suspending most security assistance to Pakistan for harboring terrorist groups, KUNA reported.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert confirmed the news to reporters in Washington that the US was suspending security assistance only to Pakistan, saying “until the Pakistani government takes decisive action against groups, including the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, we consider them to be destabilizing the region and targeting US personnel, the United States will suspend that kind of security assistance to Pakistan.”

The Trump administration did not release exactly how much it was suspending in security aid. In August, the Trump administration announced it would suspend USD 225 million in Foreign Military Assistance to Pakistan.

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Referring to the country’s South Asia policy unveiled in August, Nauert said by President Donald Trump “made it clear that no partnership can survive a country’s harboring of militants and terrorists who target US service members and officials.”

Adding, “It has been more than four months since the president’s speech, and 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 destabilize Afghanistan and also attack US and allied personnel,” Nauert said.

However, the Trump administration indicated there may be some exemptions made on a “case-by-case basis, if they’re determined to be critical to national security interests.” The suspension is not permanent, according to Nauert

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Pakistan has the ability to get this money back in the future, “but they have to take decisive action.” As part of the suspension, the US will not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless it is required by law.

The announcement follows charged comments between Trump and Pakistani officials earlier this week. In his first tweet of the new year, Trump blasted Pakistan for giving “nothing but lies and deceit” despite receiving billions in foreign aid.

In response, Pakistan leaders said Trump’s comments were “completely incomprehensible” and could damage the trust between the two countries. (T/RS5/RS1)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)