{"id":52680,"date":"2018-01-04T21:52:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T21:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/04\/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:43:16","slug":"us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/01\/04\/us-suspends-security-assistance-to-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"US suspends security assistance to Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 The decision by the U.S. to suspend security assistance to Pakistan could have serious consequences for the American-led fight in Afghanistan, and potentially further strengthen ties between Islamabad and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert announced new restrictions on Thursday that cover security assistance above and beyond the $255 million for Pakistani purchases of American military equipment that the administration held up in August, but it was not immediately clear how much money and materiel was being withheld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nauert made clear the $255 million was still blocked. The new action targets payments of so-called Coalition Support Funds that the U.S. pays to Pakistan to reimburse it for its counterterrorism operations. Those funds are typically paid later in the year, and already require U.S. certification, so the effect of Thursday\u2019s announcement was unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move comes days after President Donald Trump\u2019s New Year\u2019s Day tweet that accused Pakistan of playing U.S. leaders for \u201cfools,\u201d as well as a growing number of voices from the administration that have complained Pakistan is not doing enough to combat militants targeting U.S. personnel in neighboring Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, Trump said the U.S. had \u201cfoolishly\u201d given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid in the last 15 years and had gotten nothing in return but \u201clies & deceit.\u201d He reiterated longstanding allegations that Pakistan gives \u201csafe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t