According to Pentagon, the United State has on November 21, suspended security assistance to Pakistan of about $1.66 billion, as followed by the directives of President Donald Trump, which began in January 2018.
Spokesperson of Pentagon (Department of defence) Col Rob Manning told the media via email, “$1.66 billion of security assistance to Pakistan is suspended.”
David Sedney, Deputy Assistant Secretary Defence of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, said US blocking of military assistance to Pakistan is a very strong signal of American frustration.
Speaking of Pakistan not being serious about the actions taken by the US and Sedney told media, “But, so far Pakistan has taken no serious steps to address the core US concern – that Pakistan tolerates and often encourages groups which use violence against Pakistan’s neighbors.”
Clarifying his claim, Sedney said, “Pakistan’s leaders have promised cooperation, but beyond words, serious cooperation has not happened, therefore President Trump is frustrated and so are most Americans.”
Sedney, who also served the Pentagon at the time of Osama Bin Laden was killed, said, “What the US seeks, what President Trump is asking for, is for Pakistan to take the same kind of measures against the Taliban, against Lashkhar-e-Taiba, and against all groups in Pakistan that threaten Pakistan’s neighbors.”
Watching Donald Trump’s move and Pentagon’s decision, Sedney alleged Pakistan of still supporting “Taliban moving weapons, fighters and money through Pakistan”. He further alleged, “We still see Taliban commanders taking refuge in Pakistan, keeping their families in Pakistan, holding meetings and conducting training in Pakistan, and shipping explosives from Pakistan into Afghanistan.”