US to withhold financial assistance of Pakistan after fails to destroy terror safe havens

NewsBharati    01-Jan-2018
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Washington, January 1: The Trump administration has communicated to Pakistan that it must take decisive action against terrorist groups and dismantle their safe havens on its soil.

The US government plans to withhold $255 million in military fund to Pakistan as Washington is skeptical the Pakistan has not taken serious steps against the terror networks, particularly the notorious Haqqani terrorist network, it has been reported.

The New York Times on Saturday reported that the administration of the President Donald Trump was contemplating withholding $255m in aid over what it feels is Islamabad’s ‘non-serious attitude’ in helping counter terrorism in Afghanistan.

The report further adds that the administration believes Pakistan’s intransigence is signified by its repeated refusal to grant the United States access to a Haqqani network operative, who was allegedly captured by Pakistani forces during an October raid to free a Canadian-American family.

This comes as the US Vice President Mike Pence during his recent visit to Afghanistan reiterated Washington’s stance regarding the terror safe havens in Pakistan.

He said “For too long Pakistan has provided safe haven to the Taliban and many terrorist organizations, but those days are over. President Trump has put Pakistan on notice.”

“As the President said, so I say now: Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with the United States, and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists,” he added.