US may lift aid suspension if Pak acts against terror
February 06, 2018  23:13
The US may consider lifting its suspension of aid to Pakistan if Islamabad takes "decisive" and "sustained" actions against terror groups operating within the country, a top American diplomat said today.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on Afghanistan that he intends to hold Pakistan accountable for its failure to deny sanctuary to terrorists.

"We may consider lifting the suspension when we see decisive and sustained actions to address our concerns, including targeting all terrorist groups operating within its territory, without distinction," Sullivan said.

This was the first hearing on Afghanistan after the Trump Administration last month announced to suspend nearly $2 billion in security assistance to the Pakistani military with limited exceptions for programmes that directly support US national security interests on a case-by-case basis.

"We also encourage restraint in Pakistan's military, nuclear and missile programmes, and seek continued, closer alignment of Pakistan's nonproliferation policies with our own," he added.

Noting that the US continues to value its relationship with Pakistan and recognise the benefits of cooperation, Sullivan said Pakistan played an important role in pushing al-Qaeda closer to defeat and combating in Islamic State. 

-- PTI

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