WON’T RESUME AID TO PAK TILL IT ALLAYS OUR CONCERNS: U.S.

WASHINGTON: The US will not resume security aid to Pakistan until it addresses America’s concerns on terrorist safe havens, the Pentagon said, underlining that Islamabad’s action against militants would not only help Afghanistan but also protect India and the entire region.

The United States in January suspended more than $1.15 billion in security assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harbouring terror groups like the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network and showing an unwillingness to take decisive actions against them.

In addition, the defence department suspended the reimbursement of $900 million from the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017.

Lt Col Mike Andrews, a spokesperson of the defence department, who recently returned from Afghanistan, told PTI: “I won’t get into real specifics. The sanctuaries inside of Pakistan from where Taliban fighters can go over the border, can attack and come back and be safe... safe from Pakistani authorities, whether it’s law enforcement or military, that is certainly something that we need to, we need to see (to be addressed by Pakistan).”

“We are hopeful that they take that action because not only do we feel that it is going to serve Afghanistan, but it’s going to help protect Pakistan, India, and the entire region,” he said.