US blocks $350 million to Pakistan for not curbing terrorism
Looks like Trump was serious when he said he wouldn't turn a blind eye towards Pakistan harboring terror. To that effect, the US has stated that it will not send out $350 million of its coalition support fund to Pakistan. Defense Secretary James Mattis notified Congress that he couldn't certify if Islamabad had taken "sufficient actions" against the dreaded Haqqani network.
Pakistan's sugar-daddy: America
The United States commenced rendering economic aid and military funding to Pakistan soon after the country's conception in 1947. In total, the United States committed approximately $67 billion to Pakistan between 1951 and 2011.
Pakistan the biggest receiver of US anti-terror compensation
The Coalition Support Fund (CSF) was started by the US to compensate allies for the costs incurred by them to combat terrorist operations. Since 2002, Pakistan has been the largest recipient of this US Defense Department program. Almost $14 billion has been given to Pakistan since then. Ironically, from the other US funds too, Pakistan is expected to spend 70% on curbing terror.
'No blank cheques for Pakistan': US blocks $300 million
Gone are the days when Pakistan would get blank cheques from the US in spite of taking no action against the Haqqani network. The Pentagon announced that it was blocking almost $300 million military aid to Pakistan this year. The US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said he couldn't vouch for Pakistan taking adequate measures against terrorism, to the Congress.
Most dread organization in Pakistan: The Haqqani network
Pakistan-based Haqqani network is accused of various high-profile strikes on US and Western allies in Afghanistan. The terror group was also behind numerous lethal strikes against Indian affairs in Afghanistan, such as the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that led to 58 deaths. The group is based in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan, near the impenetrable frontier with Afghanistan.
Pakistan bans proxy outfit for the fear of losing funds
Amid the Donald Trump administration adopting a hard stance against Pakistan's support of terror groups, Islamabad has banned the Tehreek-eAzadi-Jammu & Kashmir backed by Hafiz Saeed. The group is basically a proxy outfit of the Saeed-led JuD, the mastermind behind 26/11. Though it is now on the list of forbidden organizations of Pakistan's National Counter Terrorism Authority, JuD still remains "under watch".
