Will cut off all US aid to Pakistan, warns Trump

TOUGH MESSAGE Move comes after news report says Islamabad is planning to take over charities and assets linked to 26/11 mastermind Saeed; foolishly gave billions to Pak, says US

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD : President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to cut off all aid to Pakistan, accusing it of harbouring foreign terrorists and lying about it, hours after a news report said Islamabad was preparing to take control of charities and assets linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeedin the face of growing pressure from the United States and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Noting that the US had “foolishly given” Pakistan more than $33 billion dollars in aid over 15 years, Trump tweeted: “They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more !” His comment highlighted heightened global scrutiny into Islamabad’s affairs and his administration’s visible alignment with India’s long-held stance that Pakistan is a terror hub.

Pakistan’ s finance ministry, in a secret order dated December 19, directed law enforcement agencies and governments in the country’ s five provinces to frame an action plan by December 28 for a “takeover” of Saeed’s Jamaatud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), Reu---

ters reported, citing officials and classified documents.

Late on Monday, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan prohibited the collection of donations by Lashkar-eTaiba , JuD and other groups sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

The commission warned there would be a penalty of up to Rs 10

million for non-compliance with the UN sanctions regime.

“The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan hereby prohibits all companies from donating cash to the entities and individuals listed under the UNSC sanctions committee’s consolidated list,” a notification said.

India holds Saeed responsible

for the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai and says Pakistan is soft on the JuD chief, who was recently released from house arrest and has floated a political party to contest the general elections this year.

Saeed, who founded the Le Tin 1987, operates openly despite the US offering a $10 million bounty for him.