ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will not seek release of the suspended US militaryaid as it no longer considers it “crucial”, diplomatic sources said.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation, thatPakistan wanted to “live on” without the US aid. One official said: “Therehave been contacts. We have discussed how to improve the ties but not asingle time did we speak about the release of the suspended aid. We don’tthink it is crucial anymore.”
Another official said: “The top bosses have asked us [diplomats] to discussties with the US but do not mention the aid. We don’t want it [the money]now.”
He said the US was seeking guarantees from Pakistan to “target theterrorists indiscriminately” for the release of the funds. “We [Pakistan]have told them [the US] that we are fighting all the terrorists but don’twant to beg for the aid. Having said this, back-channel efforts are on todefuse Pak-US tension,” the official added.
This month, US President Donald Trump said the US was suspending aid toPakistan for allegedly deceiving Pakistan in the war on terror.
link>Pakistan has rejected US allegationsthat it was not taking action against all the terror networks and alsoquestioned Trump’s claim of giving $33 billion to Pakistan as securityassistance.
Islamabad said it had fought the anti-terror war largely from its ownresources for the sake of the country’s and global peace. Islamabad is alsoconsidering blocking supplies to the US forces in Afghanistan through thePak-Afghan border as retaliation to Washington’s hostile attitude.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry said Pakistan was “consideringthis option” but there “has been no decision as yet.”
The US uses military supply lines that run food and equipment from Pakistanto Afghanistan.
Reports said that the US was “watching for Pakistan’s next moves” as thetwo countries struggle to retain the relationship.
This week, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told journalists thatPakistan had not indicated to shut off ground supply lines, or airover-flights.