Pentagon clarifies on cancellation of $300 million aid to Pakistan, says suspension announced in January

A day after the United States Military cut off a financial aid worth 300 million USD to Pakistan, the Pentagon on Monday issued a clarification, saying that the decision to suspend the same was made in January only.

In his respond to via e-mail to Ani, Pentagon spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Kone Faulkner said, "Unfortunately, recent reporting has distorted the details of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) by stating several things out of context'.

"The suspension of security assistance to Pakistan was announced in January 2018. CSF is included in the suspension and it remains in place. This is not a new decision or a new announcement, but an acknowledgement of a July request to reprogram funds before they expire," Faulkner added.

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The spokesman also noted that the 2018 Department of Defence (DoD) Appropriations Act, published on March 23, details USD 500 million was rescinded by the Congress.

The Donald Trump cabinet cancelled the financial aid to the Imran Khan government due to the growing concerns regarding Islamabad's failure to curb militancy.

However, Pentagon's move to cancel the aid is yet to be approved by the US Congress. The department is still awaiting a congressional determination on whether this reprogramming request will be approved or denied.

Meanwhile, the United States has consistently engaged with Pakistan's top military officials and is pressing them to indiscriminately target all terrorist groups that threaten the stability and security across the globe.

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The report of cancellation, which is part of a broader suspension of aid, came ahead of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford's expected trip to Islamabad, which is scheduled on September 5, 2018.