ISLAMABAD – Pakistan-US relations have never been so bumpy than they areat this moment. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Richard Pompeo has halted$300 million of aid to Pakistan which was supposed to be given to it underCoalition Support Fund (CSF). It happened just before the arrival of MikePompeo and General Joseph Francis Dunford to Pakistan. Lieutenant ColonelKone Faulkner said this amount will now be used for another purpose butwill not be given to Pakistan due to its ineffective policy againstterrorists. “We continue to press Pakistan to indiscriminately target allterrorist groups,” Faulkner said.
This is not all of sudden, but American President Donald Trump has warnedit earlier in his New Year tweet. America stopped $50 million in CoalitionSupport Fund (CSF). India with the assistance of America is doing whateverit takes to demoralize Pakistan on every forum. In this regard, both arealso trying to have Pakistan in Grey List of Financial Action Task Force(FATF).
Another step was taken on July 30 when America barred Pakistani armyofficers and students from taking part in the training programs. This stepwas taken as the new government of PTI took the charge of the country. HereMike Pompeo in a tweet clarified American stance by pressurizing IMF not toaid Pakistan any further.
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Another occasion where Pak-US rift was evident was when Mike Pompeo made acongratulatory call to Imran Khan which later on turned into a disaster.American side was of the view that the foreign minister forced Pakistaninew PM Imran Khan to take action against the hidden terrorists on itsterritory, whilst Pakistani side declined any such talks was conducted.
Americans kept on expanding divide in its relations with Pakistan; anotherbitter step taken by it was the nomination of 67 years old AfghanRepublican Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad who has been a severe critic ofPakistan. His views have always been acrimonious towards Pakistan. Althougha number of American-backed scholars have antagonistic views concerningPakistan’s role in the region and war on terror.
Aside from this fact, there are others like former commander of the NATOInternational Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces General John Allenwho are of the view that for maintaining peace in Afghanistan is not thesole responsibility of Pakistan. He, talking to Brooking Institution, saidPakistan, Afghanistan, and America must have unified agenda for peace inthe region.
John R. Allen is the president of the Brookings Institution, and he hasannounced it much earlier that constructive efforts from all three sidesare pivotal for the betterment of the region.
American betrayal does not seem to cost Pakistan much but it is evident ofthe fact that US cannot be trusted. The amount which Pakistan yielded fortaking part in war on terror should have been given to it at the earliest.Unfortunately, US could not live up to Pakistan’s expectations. ForeignMinister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood clarified in his press conference saidthat it is reimbursement and not an aid. “It is not aid. It is notassistance, which was suspended. This the money, which we have spent. Thisis our money. We have spent it,” Qureshi said. “We did it for ourbetterment, which they had to reimburse.” In spite of that US is attemptingto hurt Pakistan by all means