US to scrap $300 million aid to Pak due to 'lack of decisive actions'

September 02, 2018 08:31

The Pentagon has sought Congressional determination to reprogramme USD 300 million of its Coalition Support Fund for Pakistan because of the latter's "lack of" decisive actions in support of the South Asia Strategy.

"Due to a lack of Pakistani decisive actions in support of the South Asia Strategy, the remaining USD 300 million (actually USD 323.6 million to include non-Pakistan funds) was reprogrammed by DoD in the June/July 2018 time frame for other urgent priorities before the funds expire on September 30, 2018," Pentagon Spokesman Kon Faulkner said.

With this, the Department of Defence has reprogrammed USD 800 million CSF destined for Pakistan.

This is because US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has refused to give the necessary certification to the Congress that Pakistan has taken strong steps against terrorist groups like the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"This is not a new decision or a new announcement," Faulkner said.

"In 2018, the DoD Appropriations Act, published on March 23, 2018, you can find the verbiage detailing USD 500 million was rescinded by Congress upon the 2018 DoD Appropriations Act's passage (page 161), which is all public, he said.

"We continue to press Pakistan to indiscriminately target all terrorist groups, including the Haqqani Network and LET in the region," Faulkner said.

The Department of Defence is awaiting congressional determination on whether this reprogramming request will be approved or denied. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Canada arrests 3 Indians in Nijjar's killing, says more people involved

Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of Sikh activist Nijjar, CTV News quoted a senior government source as saying.

Extend all possible support to Revanna's victims: Rahul writes to K'taka CM

In a veiled attack on Modi, Rahul said he has never come across a senior public representative who has constantly chosen silence in the face of untold violence against women.

'Mumbai Indians a very confused team; Hardik looks flattened'

India vice-captain Hardik Pandya looks drained, flattened, under pressure and Mumbai Indians appear like a confused unit under him, reckon former cricketers Aaron Finch and Greame Smith.

INDIA bloc PM will be...: Shashi Tharoor

'The PM who is first among equals, who has to listen to others, take their point of view into account and who would have to be a good manager'

No funding from Cong, Puri LS candidate returns ticket

'I tried a public donation drive to support my campaign for progressive politics without much success so far. I also tried to cut down the projected campaign spending to the minimum'