ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) says it is suspending security assistance to Pakistan targeting the Coalition Support Fund that the US pays to Pakistan to reimburse it for its counter-terrorism operations.
The move comes after President Trump’s baseless allegations against Pakistan rejected by Civil and Military leadership and all political parties with one voice.
Pakistan maintains that the assistance it has received from the U.S. was mainly reimbursement for supporting U.S.-led coalition forces that invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to topple the Taliban regime.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert announcing the decision at a news conference in Washington said the assistance is suspended until Pakistan takes decisive action against the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network that are targeting U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
In an interview with CNN former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta questioned the decision, saying it risks pushing Pakistan toward a closer relationship with China and Russia — US adversaries that have been strengthening their economic ties with the Pakistani government in recent years.