Pakistan

US won't pay Pakistan military reimbursements this year: Pentagon

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis says Islamabad had not taken sufficient action against Haqqani Network

Reuters July 21, 2017

US Defence Secretary James Mattis (left) and Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, brief the media at the Pentagon in Washington, April 11, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON:

The Pentagon will not make the remaining military reimbursements to Pakistan for fiscal year 2016 after US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis Rtold Congress that Islamabad had not taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network, a US official said on Friday.

"The funds could not be released to the Government of Pakistan at this time because the secretary could not certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network per the requirement in the FY 2016 National Defence Authorization Act," Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said.

The decision comes as President Donald Trump's administration is exploring potentially hardening its approach towards Pakistan to crack down on militants launching strikes in neighbouring Afghanistan.

'No safe haven': Pakistan rejects US report on Taliban, Haqqani network

"This decision does not prejudge the conclusions of the White House review of South Asia strategy, which is still ongoing," Stump said.

However, Pakistan rejected on Thursday the US State Department’sannual assessment that it did not take substantial action against the Afghan Taliban or Haqqani Network or limit their ability to threaten US interests in Afghanistan.

This is not the first time the Pentagon has decided not to make military reimbursements. Last year, it withheld $300 million in reimbursements.

US counting on Pakistan's support, says McCain

Pakistan has been reimbursed $550 million of the $900 million the country was authorised to receive in fiscal year 2016.

Out of remainder, $300 million had already been reprogrammed for other purposes, but had not been previously reported. Mattis' latest decision affects the remaining $50 million.

The amount is 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.

COMMENTS (9)

Zahid | 6 years ago | Reply Thank you US. We badly needed to be rid of you. It's a good time to begin. Let's shoot down drones and help the majority in Afghanistan, the Taliban. Let the unwanted foreigners feel the heat.

Usman | 6 years ago | Reply Simple Solutions: 1.) Impose a Tax on all Coalition shipments which transit Pakistan & do not originate in Pakistan that equals the Coalition Support Fund. 2.) Impose a tax on all Coalition shipments out of Afghanistan as a retaliatory measure. We have so many options, it's not like we need the US for anything anymore. No f16s, sanctions, duplicitous talk, lies about who initially supported the Taliban, the last thing they can do is close their market to Pakistani textiles, we can find other alternatives after a few years.