US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf. PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON DC: As lawmakers continue to debate whether to join the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, the United States said on Thursday Pakistan 'can make its own decision and it is not for us to decide'.
According to US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf, every country can make their own decisions about 'how they – if and how they participate in the Saudi-led military operation'.
“We have said that we are supporting them (Pakistan) logistically, as I said, with munitions and other arms as well,” Harf added.
Responding to a question regarding US approving Pakistan's request for arms worth $1 billion, she said the State Department did approve a possible foreign military sale for helicopters and associated equipment, parts, and support for an estimated cost of about $952 million.
Read: US State Department approves Pakistan's request for arms worth $1b
“This proposed sale of helicopters and weapons systems will provide Pakistan with military capabilities in support of its counterterrorism operations inside the country,” the US state department deputy spokesperson added.
Harf declared the US has a very close counterterrorism relationship with Pakistan for very good reasons.
“There’s still a serious threat in Pakistan from terrorists who have either attacked the US or American soldiers in Afghanistan, who have tried to plot and plan against the West, including the US,” she said.
Harf added that since the remnants of core al Qaeda are mainly in the tribal areas of Pakistan, the US is trying to help the country. “This is in our national security interest to do so, ” the US state department deputy spokesperson said.
Speaking about the purposes for which the weapons can be used by Pakistan, Harf said the US has many ways of monitoring how the weapons it sells are used.
"That’s obviously something we care very deeply about, “ she added.
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