US refuses Pakistan aid because of ‘lack of action on terrorism’

5 Jan 18

The United States has announced it is withholding $255m in aid from Pakistan, saying the country has failed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.

A National Security Council official said the White House has no plans to send aid to Pakistan “at this time” and that “the administration continues to review Pakistan’s level of cooperation”.

The White House said on Tuesday it wanted to see Pakistan do more in the fight against terrorism and would likely announce actions to put pressure on Islamabad within days.

Its spokesperson Sarah Sanders said: “Our goal is that we know that they can do more to stop terrorism and we want them to do that.”

She added that more details should come out on specific actions by the end of this week.

President Donald Trump also said on Monday the US has received nothing in return for the aid given to Pakistan over the last 15 years, and pledged to stop it.

 

He said on Twitter:  “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33m dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools.

“They give safe haven to the terrorists we hung in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”

Trump also said in tweets on Tuesday that the US would withhold future aid payments to Palestinians unwilling to “talk peace” with Israel. 

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