WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump s decision to freeze aid to Pakistancould affect almost two billion dollars worth of assistance, a senioradministration official said on Friday — substantially more than firstthought.
After an announcement designed to force Pakistan s military andintelligence apparatus to cut support for the Taliban and other Islamistgroups, the official said that both US military assistance and Afghanistancoalition funding to Islamabad could be suspended.
It is “approximately two billion worth of equipment and coalition supportfunding that is in play,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
After more than a decade of simmering US anger at links between Islamabadand the Taliban and the Haqqani network — a Taliban affiliate — PresidentDonald Trump is trying to draw a line in the sand.
On the hook is almost $1 billion of US military equipment that has allowedPakistan access to advanced military technology, but also funding that ismeant to pay Pakistan for helping get US and NATO materiel into Afghanistan.
Analysts believe the United States is highly unlikely to freeze all thatfunding, which totals $1.9 billion, according to the source.
US officials have already indicated that there could be “exemptions” forprograms deemed vital to US national security — likely including cash forkeeping Pakistan s nuclear weapons safe.
But nevertheless, the total figure of $1.9 billion is much higher thanfirst indicated and is a signal of Washington s seriousness.
The senior administration official said “all options are on the table” whenit comes to further moves, including stripping Pakistan of its status as a”major non-NATO ally” or calling in vital IMF loans.
The White House is demanding Pakistan crack down on Taliban elements andother groups that raise funds and take refuge in the border areas withAfghanistan.
It believes that a Pakistani crackdown could be pivotal in deciding theoutcome of the war in Afghanistan — entering its 17th year — by weakeningthe Taliban militarily and forcing the organization to the negotiatingtable.
US officials believe that Pakistan s Inter-Services Intelligence agency andother military bodies have long helped fund and arm the Taliban forideological reasons, but also to counter rising Indian influence inAfghanistan.
Islamabad denies those allegations and has called Trump s decision tothreaten funding “counterproductive.”
Pakistan s foreign ministry issued a cautious statement in which it said itwas “engaged” with US officials and awaiting further details.
Without referring to the decision directly, it warned that “arbitrarydeadlines, unilateral pronouncements and shifting goalposts arecounterproductive in addressing common threats.”
The announcement ignited some small protests in Pakistan on Friday,including in Chaman, one of the two main crossings on the border withAfghanistan where several hundred people gathered to chant anti-US slogans.
US officials admit that Pakistan could make life difficult for Washingtonby closing land routes that are vital to supply US troops in Afghanistan.But, the official said, it was “difficult but not impossible” to find otherways to get equipment in. – Agencies