New Delhi:
The United States has suspended its USD 255 million military aid to Pakistan for now, the White House has confirmed, saying the fate of such assistance will depend on Islamabad’s response to terrorism on its soil.
The confirmation comes on the same day when US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but “lies and deceit†and providing “safe haven†to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.
“The United States does not plan to spend the USD 255 million in FY 2016 in Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan at this time,†a senior administration official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“The President has made clear that the US expects Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorists and militants on its soil, and that Pakistan’s actions in support of the South Asia Strategy will ultimately determine the trajectory of our relationship, including future security assistance,†he said.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump, in his first tweet of the New Year, blasted the Pakistan leadership by saying that they had given America “nothing but lies and deceit†despite having received more than USD 33 billion in the last 15 years.
The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018
Here are the LIVE updates:
#Â Pakistani journalist and contributor to 'Dawn' newspaper has revealed how the aid from US to Pakistan has been used for human rights abuse in Balochistan, Sindh and PoK.Â
The Military aid given to the Pakistani Army has been used for Human Rights abuses in Balochistan, Sindh and KP. Hundreds of innocent Baloch, Sindhi and Pashtun are killed and thousands of picked up by LeAs instead to hunt the terrorists. https://t.co/xIzAzza9lx
— Tanveer Arain (@tanvirarain) January 1, 2018
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# Baloch activist Naela Quadri Baloch from World Baloch Women Forum (WBWF) has voiced for complete isolation of Pakistan and its citizens. Â
US must disengage with Pakistan and its terrorist army, it should stop giving funds to Pakistan, impose a travel ban on them, limit the international reach of Pakistani banks and isolate Pak from International financial system: Naela Quadri Baloch, World Baloch Women Forum (WBWF) pic.twitter.com/m3jShMxbI8
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2018
#US doled out billions of dollar over the years in aid to Pakistan... It was a vested interest of the Americans to keep the financing going for promoting their own agenda - Lt Gen (Retd) PN Hoon
#Â The World doesn't know as to how much of aid does Pakistan spend on infrastructure.. most of it seems to be going into wrong hands - Lt Gen (Retd) Rakesh Sharma
# Watch NewsNation's Exclusive talk:
# Cable News Network's (CNN) National Security analyst Sam Vinograd has voiced her opinion in support of Donald Trump's decision to cut military aid to Pakistan. Â
We have for decades looked aside as Pakistan allows dangerous activity within its borders. Enough is enough #Pakistan https://t.co/OdvRqGL5Ja
— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) January 1, 2018
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been fighting to end aid to Pakistan for years and will again lead the charge in the Senate. Let’s make this happen @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/v4KrOrWOyS https://t.co/JNNChCfVqP
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 1, 2018
# Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma came out in full support of Presdent Donald Trump's decision to curb military aid to Pakistan and said, “I support the decision today by President Trump to end aid to Pakistan,â€Â Â
# Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja M. Asif was quick to respond to President Donald Trump's tweet and said that soon there will be difference between facts and fiction.Â
We will respond to President Trump's tweet shortly inshallah...Will let the world know the truth..difference between facts & fiction..
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 1, 2018
