WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) — The United States will withhold $300 million in military aid from Pakistan unless more is done to stop Haqqani militants targeting Afghan and U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
“No decision has been made regarding certification requirements” of Pakistan to U.S. Congress, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Roger Cabiness said, but senior Obama administration officials say Pakistan has been warned about taking U.S. assistance from Washington while offering safety to insurgents. At issue is Pakistan’s lack of action against the Haqqani network, a Taliban ally on the U.S. State Department list of terrorist organizations, described in 2011 by Adm. Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a “veritable arm” of Pakistani military intelligence.
Under a 2014 U.S. law, Washington must withhold Pakistan’s share of 2015 Coalition Support Funds, meant to reimburse Islamabad for expenses in fighting militants near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, if Pakistan does not move to disrupt the Haqqani network.
Qazi Khalilullah, a spokesman for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, defended Pakistan’s actions, saying in Islamabad, “Action is being taken across the board, against all enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are no good or bad terrorists.”
Pakistani media reported Thursday an upcoming payment from the United States was suspended.
Speaking earlier in August, Gen. John Campbell, U.S. commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, said, “There is no doubt in my mind that Pakistan over the years has probably not done enough to be able to help us get after the Haqqani threat. I think as they look at it they have a lot of other issues they’ve got to deal with inside of Pakistan, and they don’t want Haqqani to turn on them.”
Loss of the funding would further strain ties between Pakistan and the United States. It is hoped, by the Obama administration, that Pakistan can exert its influence to persuade the Taliban and Haqqani organizations to participate in peace talks with Afghanistan’s government.
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