On January 1, 2018, US President Donald informed the world that the country has "foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the 15 years". "No more," he announced to the world.
Over a month later, on February 13, when he unveiled a US$ 4 trillion annual budget, Trump proposed US$ 256 million in civilian assistance and US$ 80 million in military aid to Pakistan.
This came even as India was still in mourning over the loss of three Army personnel and a civilian as Pak-based terrorists launched an attack on Sunjuwan military station in Jammu.
The proposal of aid to Pakistan comes weeks after Trump administration suspended security assistance to Islamabad due to its inability to take action against terrorist groups operating from its soil.
The White House has said it would consider lifting the freeze if it sees action by Pakistan against terrorist groups. The budgetary proposal says that the military aid depends on Pakistan taking action against terrorist safe havens.
"The budget requests US$ 256 million for Pakistan in economic and other assistance to help increase stability, promote economic growth and create opportunities for US businesses," said the annual budgetary proposals sent by the White House to the Congress.
"In addition, the Budget requests US$ 80 million in Foreign Military Financing assistance to enhance Pakistan's counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency capabilities, contingent on Pakistan taking appropriate action to expand cooperation in areas where US-Pakistan interests converge and to address areas of divergence, in line with the administration's South Asia strategy," the White House said.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley had said last month that Washington would withhold $255 million in assistance to Pakistan. Her statement had followed an angry tweet from Trump that the United States had been rewarded with “nothing but lies and deceit” for giving Pakistan billions in aid.
"The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more," Trump had tweeted.
While US accuses Pakistan of not doing enough to battle terrorists, India alleges that Islamabad uses the aid to fund terrorists in Kashmir.
A day after the attack at Sunjuwan camp, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday warned Pakistan on Monday that it will have to pay for its misadventure of terror.
Alleging that fidayeens who attacked the Army’s 36 Brigade Headquarters in Jammu’s Sunjuwan were controlled by handlers across the border, Sitharaman said India has the right to respond adequately at the time of its choosing.
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