The Pentagon will not pay Pakistan $300 million in military reimbursements after US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter be decided not to tell Congress that Pakistan was taking adequate action against the Haqqani network, a US official said.
Relations between the two countries have been frayed over the past decade, with US officials frustrated by what they term Islamabad’s unwillingness to act against extremist groups such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
“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 spokesperson Adam Stump said on Wednesday.
The $300 million comes from the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), a US Defense Department program 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 added.
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 extremist groups and is wary of a “blowback” in the form of more terror attacks on its soil.
“(The) Coalition Support Fund is one of the many cooperative arrangements between Pakistan and the United States to pursue common objectives,” said Nadeem Hotiana, a spokesperson for the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
Relations between the United States and Pakistan were tested in May by a US drone strike that killed Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour on Pakistani soil.
There has been growing resistance in the US Congress to sending money to Pakistan. Many lawmakers have expressed concern about its nuclear program, 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 $700 million of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter jets.
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They just don't want to provide CSF to Pakistan that's it…they are just making haqqani network an excuse
Pakistan can not please America. Pakistan has sacrificed thousands of Pakistanis, spent billions of dollar to maintain its infrastructure, but Ameria is not happy. The govt should have independent foreign policy. and no dictations be taken from outworld,
America's $300 million roasted peanuts packet comes with a 'do more' clause and that 'do more' is to attack Haqqani network, the most potent and lethal fighting group allied with the Afghan Taliban. 'Do more' is not a demand for a single task, it will be stretched indefinitely like an elastic band. Haqqani network has always remained resolutely faithful to Pakistan, they have never ever caused any harm, any real influence Pakistan has on the Afghan Taliban is through the Haqqani network.
US is asking Pakistan army to attack a group of fighters that have always remained loyal, perhaps the only real source of influence to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. One full decade, trillions of dollars, latest military technology, the most advanced armies of Europe and US with most advance intelligence organizations could not make a dent in their war against the Taliban and the Haqqani network. Now US is asking an over stretched Pakistan army to attack the Haqqani network. Any one who attacks Haqqani network will have to face the wrath of their allied Afghan Taliban who will form a grand alliance with TTP, Bloch terror groups, Karachi terror groups, and all the Islamic terror groups in Pakistan; in other words US is asking Pakistan army to take over Nato-Afghan-US war in Afghanistan, over and above its own unending war against terrorism, consistently obstructed by its own government by refusing to do what is required of it. In other words, US is asking the Pakistan army to commit military suicide which will most certainly result in complete destabilization of Pakistan. Under this scenario, US will achieve all its objectives, take away nuclear weapons and destroy the production units, end of CPEC, and final breakup of Pakistan in to several states, installing Nawaz Sharif in Punjab, Zirdari in Sindh, some tribal nawab in Baluchistan and Mulana diesel in KP, all sworn to a pledge of subservience to US and Indian demands.
Pakistans support for the Haqqani terrorist network is costing them hundreds of millions…Meanwhile the PTI pledge to give millions in governmemt money to the school for terrorists at Darul Uluum Haqqania has not been overlooked…that is State Sponsoring of terrorists…Pakistan cannot have it both ways?
Pakistan needs to stop begging. Americans will help only when they need Pakistan. We have seen this over and over again. Definition of INSANITY is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. At the moment they are too busy kissing India's behind. Indian Lobby has joined forces with Israeli Lobby and they are very very strong. Pakistan does not have much of a chance competing especially given the fact that Pakistani governments are CORRUPT.
Pakistan also needs to get its act together and stop feeding SNAKES. These terror groups that Pakistan has been feeding have killed more Pakistanis than anything. STOP FEEDING THE SNAKES. Haqani Network and the Pakistan / Afghan Taliban are ANIMALS. EXTERMINATE THEM and bring peace to the country.
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