Hours after the Pentagon issued a clarification on its decision to scrap a $300 million security aid to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday said that it was not a military aid to Pakistan but what it owns to Islamabad for its support in the war against terrorism and should be reimbursed.
Qureshi was addressing a press conference following the US Military's decision to freeze a $300 million financial aid and said, "The $300 million is neither aid nor assistance - it is the money Pakistan spent from its resources against militants and in the war against terrorism".
"This is the money they (US) are supposed to reimburse, but now either they are not willing or unable to pay back," the foreign minister went on to claim further.
"It was all our money that we spent and they (US) were merely reimbursing it," Qureshi added.
Read | Pentagon clarifies on cancellation of $300 million aid to Pakistan, says suspension announced in January
Earlier speaking to BBC Urdu, Qureshi said that the United States in principle should pay back the money to Pakistan because it was spent for a common objective to defeat terrorism and create peace and stability.
Qureshi also came down heavily on the Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N government for the current tension with the US. He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government was not responsible for the latest tension or suspension of funds by the US as the deal to reimburse Pakistan the cost of the war on terror was agreed in the past.
Read | PM Modi writes to Imran Khan for uninterrupted talks between India and Pakistan: Pak FM SM Qureshi
"The new government of Imran Khan will take all decision keeping in mind the interests of Pakistan," Qureshi added.
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