US decision to withhold CSF disappointing, says Fatemi

Says linking CSF to specific actions by Pakistan not consistent with fund’s spirit

ISLAMABAD: A senior aide of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Pakistan was disappointed with the Pentagon’s decision not to certify to the US Congress the ‘concerted and forceful measures’ the country has taken against the Haqqani network.

“Ironically, this happened at a time when Pakistan had made remarkable progress through operation Zarb-e-Azb in dismantling terrorist networks without discrimination,” Tariq Fatemi, the special assistant to the premier, told US Congressman Chris Stewart, who called on him at the Foreign office.

Fatemi informed Stewart that linking the Coalition Support Fund to specific actions by Pakistan was not consistent with the spirit of the CSF which, in fact, was a reimbursement for the expenses incurred by Pakistan in supporting wider counter-terrorism efforts in the region post-9/11. Stewart noted that the Congress recognised the efforts and sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism. He added that the visit had provided him a deeper understanding of the Pakistan-US bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism and towards joint efforts by the QCG in restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan.



Fatemi appreciated the positive role and invaluable support by the Congress for democracy in Pakistan over the years. He underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between elected legislatures of the two countries, noting that “Pakistan, as a vibrant democracy, has a lot to learn from the US”.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2016.