A United States lawmaker Ted Poe called Pakistan a "backstabbing nation" , praising Defense Secretary James Mattis’s resolve to refuse a $350 million grant from the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to India’s neighbour.
The grant will be withheld until such time as is clear that Islamabad is no longer aiding its home-grown terror networks, claimed reports.
Congressman Poe said in a statement, which he shared on his Twitter handle:
I am pleased to see the administration bring our misguided policy on Pakistan into review and am encouraged by this step revoking funding to our Benedict Arnold Ally.
Pentagon chief Jim Mattis recently informed the Congress that the Pakistani government had not done enough to tackle the Taliban-linked Haqqani Network, following which the US refused to grant the terror-ravaged country $350 million, claimed reports.
Mattis was unable to verify whether Islamabad had taken adequate measures in keeping with the guidelines of the National Defense Authorization Act, to tackle the Haqqani Network.
The US had earlier set aside a $900 million grant to Pakistan through the CSF, of which, the latter has already received $550 million. Last year, the Congress had revoked a $300 million grant to Pakistan.
Despite the rescinding of funds to Pakistan, Mattis said that the country still has a chance to turn things in its favour by taking appropriate measure against the Haqqani network.
Pakistan continues to stay on the Trump administration’s list of nations and areas providing "safe havens" to terrorists. The US State Department, in its yearly 'Country Report on Terrorism' said:
Pakistan did not take substantial action against the Afghan Taliban or Haqqani, or substantially limit their ability to threaten US interests in Afghanistan, although Pakistan supported efforts to bring both groups into an Afghan-led peace process.
(With inputs from ANI)
(We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue? Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL at bol@thequint.com or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)