Pakistan Calls US Suspension of Aid 'Counterproductive'

In response to the suspension of US aid to Pakistan, the country described the move as 'counterproductive' and a blow to counter-terrorism efforts. On Thursday, January 4, the US State Department announced that nearly all financial and military aid to Pakistan would be suspended. The State Department stated that the $900 million in aid would continue only if Pakistan takes action against terrorist groups, including the Taliban and the Haqqani network, operating within its borders. According to US officials, the aid to Pakistan is affected in two areas: military assistance, training, and services, and aid for counter-terrorism efforts. This aid was to be provided by the US Department of Defense. Previously, in September 2017, the US had suspended a $255 million aid package to Pakistan related to the 2016 budget, which was supposed to be disbursed by the US State Department. The German news agency reported that the Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, 'Arbitrary deadlines, unilateral decisions, and changing objectives in the face of common threats are counterproductive.' The Pakistani Foreign Ministry added, 'Cooperation for sustainable peace requires mutual respect, trust, patience, and steadfastness.' This ministry emphasized that combating groups like ISIS in Afghanistan requires 'greater international cooperation.' Pakistan's financial advisor, Miftah Ismail, previously stated that the suspension of this aid would not harm Pakistan's economy. At the beginning of the new year, US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of lying and deceiving the US in the fight against terrorism. US officials have repeatedly accused the Pakistani military intelligence agency of supporting the Afghan Taliban, a claim Islamabad has denied.