Pentagon balks at paying Pakistan $300m

US defence aide has not told Congress Islamabad is taking adequate action against Haqqanis


Reuters August 05, 2016
PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will not pay Pakistan $300 million in military reimbursements after US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter decided not to tell Congress that Islamabad was taking adequate action against the Haqqani network, a US official said.

Pentagon not to pay Pakistan $300 million in military reimbursements

“The funds could not be released to the Government of Pakistan at this time because the secretary has not yet certified that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani network,” Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said on Wednesday.

The $300 million comes under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), a US Defence Department programme to reimburse allies that have incurred costs in supporting counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations. Pakistan is the largest recipient.

“This decision does not reduce the significance of the sacrifices that the Pakistani military has undertaken over the last two years,” Stump said. According to Pentagon data, about $14 billion has already been paid to Pakistan under the CSF since 2002.

The decision by the Pentagon is a sign that while it sees some progress by Pakistan in its military operations in North Waziristan, much work remains. Pakistan rejects harbouring militants but says there are limits to how much it can do as it is already fighting multiple Islamist groups and is wary of a “blowback” in the form of more militant attacks on its soil.

Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups without discrimination: Foreign Office

There has been growing resistance in the US Congress to sending money to Pakistan. Many lawmakers have expressed concern about its nuclear programme, commitment to fighting terrorist organisations and cooperation in the Afghanistan peace process.

In March, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar any US funding for Islamabad’s purchase of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter jets.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2016.

COMMENTS (1)

Imdadi | 7 years ago | Reply For a beggar nation, this is a terrible blow. Pakistan will have to take its begging bowl elsewhere now.
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