The Trump administration just announced that they are freezing nearly all security aid to the country of Pakistan:
NY TIMES – The United States will suspend nearly all security aid to Pakistan, the Trump administration announced on Thursday, in a sign of its frustration with the country’s refusal to confront terrorist networks operating there.
“The suspension is a freeze, and does not reflect intent to reprogram funds at this time,” according to internal government talking points that were obtained by The New York Times.
The Trump administration had delayed $255 million in State Department aid until Islamabad did more to crack down on terrorism. Relations between the United States and Pakistan have deteriorated since the summer, when President Trump accused the country of giving “safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror.”
American officials had also demanded access to a militant who was captured by Pakistani forces during the rescue of a Canadian-American family in October. The militant was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, but Pakistan rejected the Americans’ request
This comes just after the State Department put Pakistan on a special watch list for “severe violations of religious freedom”.
As I suggested the other day, I’m all for Trump pushing Pakistan to crack down more on terrorism and to be more complaint with the US in our fight against terrorism. We shouldn’t just dole out our hard-earned taxpayer dollars to them if they are going to continue to harbor terrorists.