Pakistan: US aid cut was money owed, not assistance

From al-Jazeera


Islamabad, Pakistan - The significance of United States cancelling $300m in security assistance to the Pakistan has been downplayed by the country's foreign minister who said the amount was a reimbursement and not assistance.

Relations between the US and Pakistan have been increasingly frayed since January, when US President Donald Trump suspended more than $1.1bn in security assistance to the country over allegations that it was not acting against armed groups such as the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan denies the charge, saying it has conducted indiscriminate military operations against all armed groups operating on its soil.

On Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson Lt-Col Kone Faulkner confirmed that the US would be finally cancelling $300m in Coalition Support Funds (CSF), which was part of the $1.1bn suspended in January, reassigning the funds to other projects, "due to a lack of Pakistani decisive actions in support of the South Asia Strategy".

COMMENT:-

We shouldn't be giving any money to Pakistan which continues with its nuclear proliferation. The Pakistani's have ~140 nuclear warheads now and continue building their nuclear arsenal.

And they're little help with Afghanistan. They're about as trustworthy as the Norko's.

TU Curmudgeon said:

From al-Jazeera

Pakistan: US aid cut was money owed, not assistance
​

Islamabad, Pakistan - The significance of United States cancelling $300m in security assistance to the Pakistan has been downplayed by the country's foreign minister who said the amount was a reimbursement and not assistance.

Relations between the US and Pakistan have been increasingly frayed since January, when US President Donald Trump suspended more than $1.1bn in security assistance to the country over allegations that it was not acting against armed groups such as the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan denies the charge, saying it has conducted indiscriminate military operations against all armed groups operating on its soil.

On Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson Lt-Col Kone Faulkner confirmed that the US would be finally cancelling $300m in Coalition Support Funds (CSF), which was part of the $1.1bn suspended in January, reassigning the funds to other projects, "due to a lack of Pakistani decisive actions in support of the South Asia Strategy".

COMMENT:-

Once the pianos have been delivered, there really isn't any reason to pay for them, is there?

It looks like it is NOW "best practices" to get the money that the US government has promised you to reimburse you for what you spent doing something that the US government wanted you to do in cash and up front (or, at least, put into an escrow account from which the US government can't withdraw it without your permission and which you can claim upon presentation of evidence of completion).

PS - That $300,000,000 would pay for a really nifty parade where the US military can salute Donald Trump - wouldn't it?
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That settles up the bill for taking UBL off their hands.

They don't like it? Screw'em.

What are they going to do? Give financial support to anti-US terrorists?

TU Curmudgeon said:

From al-Jazeera

Pakistan: US aid cut was money owed, not assistance
​

Islamabad, Pakistan - The significance of United States cancelling $300m in security assistance to the Pakistan has been downplayed by the country's foreign minister who said the amount was a reimbursement and not assistance.

Relations between the US and Pakistan have been increasingly frayed since January, when US President Donald Trump suspended more than $1.1bn in security assistance to the country over allegations that it was not acting against armed groups such as the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan denies the charge, saying it has conducted indiscriminate military operations against all armed groups operating on its soil.

On Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson Lt-Col Kone Faulkner confirmed that the US would be finally cancelling $300m in Coalition Support Funds (CSF), which was part of the $1.1bn suspended in January, reassigning the funds to other projects, "due to a lack of Pakistani decisive actions in support of the South Asia Strategy".

COMMENT:-

Once the pianos have been delivered, there really isn't any reason to pay for them, is there?

It looks like it is NOW "best practices" to get the money that the US government has promised you to reimburse you for what you spent doing something that the US government wanted you to do in cash and up front (or, at least, put into an escrow account from which the US government can't withdraw it without your permission and which you can claim upon presentation of evidence of completion).

PS - That $300,000,000 would pay for a really nifty parade where the US military can salute Donald Trump - wouldn't it?
​

Click to expand...

I know a lot of people from Pakistan, and they are more eager to move towards China and Russia at this point. They don't trust the US under Trump. They are expecting to build up a port city that is supposed to be "the next Dubai," and China is really interested in it because it will benefit their supply route. They also just elected Imran Khan, and are hoping to build up their economy with China, and Khan hopes to improve relates with India.

I also know a lot of Indians, and they are in a spat with Trump over some kind of plane purchase with Russia. Trump is threatening sanctions on India, and they are refusing to take Trump seriously. They are predicting Trump will be all bluster and threads, then backtrack. The Indian news stations are suggesting the people and government have an interest in engaging more with China and Russia, because America is not that dependable anymore.

Rogue Valley said:

We shouldn't be giving any money to Pakistan which continues with its nuclear proliferation. The Pakistani's have ~140 nuclear warheads now and continue building their nuclear arsenal.

And they're little help with Afghanistan. They're about as trustworthy as the Norko's.

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America has had interest in Pakistan for a long time. There are bases and strategic points. My friend's mom worked as surgical nurse there, and has helped America's wounded in Afghanistan. The nation hasn't been the best in supporting American efforts, but I am not sure that throwing it all away would be a good thing to do. Plus if America gets out, China and Russia are more than happy to move in.

apdst said:

That settles up the bill for taking UBL off their hands.

They don't like it? Screw'em.

What are they going to do? Give financial support to anti-US terrorists?

Click to expand...

What is the route for supplies to US forces in Afghanistan, if the route through Pakistan is closed, including the air? Russia, Iran? The US is left with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as the only routes to Afghanistan, and both would be far more expensive.

SheWolf said:

I know a lot of people from Pakistan, and they are more eager to move towards China and Russia at this point. They don't trust the US under Trump. They are expecting to build up a port city that is supposed to be "the next Dubai," and China is really interested in it because it will benefit their supply route. They also just elected Imran Khan, and are hoping to build up their economy with China, and Khan hopes to improve relates with India.

I also know a lot of Indians, and they are in a spat with Trump over some kind of plane purchase with Russia. Trump is threatening sanctions on India, and they are refusing to take Trump seriously. They are predicting Trump will be all bluster and threads, then backtrack. The Indian news stations are suggesting the people and government have an interest in engaging more with China and Russia, because America is not that dependable anymore.

Click to expand...

It is not a plane purchase, but specifically the S400 AA system, and overall any Russian military equipment that the US is threatening to sanction countries buying. That is making the Indians unhappy, and less likely to buy US stuff and it would leave them open to US withholding parts to maintain the equipment

Rogue Valley said:

We shouldn't be giving any money to Pakistan which continues with its nuclear proliferation. The Pakistani's have ~140 nuclear warheads now and continue building their nuclear arsenal.

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You might have a point there.

Of course Israel has even more than 140 nuclear warheads AND it isn't even next door to a nuclear armed country.

Now, fair is fair, so if the US should cut off all aid to Pakistan simply because Pakistan has nuclear weapons, then the US should also cut off all aid to Israel because Israel has nuclear weapons.

Oh yes, and the US should cut off all aid to India as well, because India has nuclear weapons too.

Rogue Valley said:

And they're little help with Afghanistan.

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That may well NOT be the way that the Pakistanis see it.

On the other hand, I will agree that the Pakistanis haven't been as helpful as the could have been in assisting the government of the United States of America doing what the government of the United States of America wanted to do in Afghanistan in order to promote the best interests of the United States of America (regardless of whether those "best interests" were also in the best interests of any other country).

Rogue Valley said:

They're about as trustworthy as the Norko's.

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Absolutely and 100% agree. The Pakistanis are always going to put what they see as Pakistani interests ahead of any other interests - just like the (North) Koreans do. Not only that, but the Pakistanis are NOT going to think like people who were born and raised in the United States of America and who consider that the interests of the United States of America take priority over the interests of any other country (even in that other country [especially if that 'other country' is their own]) in exactly the same manner as the (North) Koreans are NOT going to think like people who were born and raised in the United States of America and who consider that the interests of the United States of America take priority over the interests of any other country (even in that other country [especially if that 'other country' is their own])

apdst said:

That settles up the bill for taking UBL off their hands.

They don't like it? Screw'em.

What are they going to do? Give financial support to anti-US terrorists?

Click to expand...

I see no evidence to suggest that the Pakistanis are seriously considering any change in their foreign policy (especially near home).

SheWolf said:

I know a lot of people from Pakistan, and they are more eager to move towards China and Russia at this point. They don't trust the US under Trump. They are expecting to build up a port city that is supposed to be "the next Dubai," and China is really interested in it because it will benefit their supply route. They also just elected Imran Khan, and are hoping to build up their economy with China, and Khan hopes to improve relates with India.

I also know a lot of Indians, and they are in a spat with Trump over some kind of plane purchase with Russia. Trump is threatening sanctions on India, and they are refusing to take Trump seriously. They are predicting Trump will be all bluster and threads, then backtrack. The Indian news stations are suggesting the people and government have an interest in engaging more with China and Russia, because America is not that dependable anymore.

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Aye, the belief in that "because America is not that dependable anymore" bit is starting to have some effect.

Lord Tammerlain said:

What is the route for supplies to US forces in Afghanistan, if the route through Pakistan is closed, including the air? Russia, Iran? The US is left with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as the only routes to Afghanistan, and both would be far more expensive.

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Well the "obvious" solution is to simply shoot down any Pakistani aircraft that attempt to interfere with the flow of supplies to American forces in Afghanistan - isn't it?

And, of course, if the Pakistanis attempt to interfere with any ground based logistical operations that are needed to ensure the flow of supplies to American forces in Afghanistan then the "obvious" solution is to "liberate" Pakistan - isn't it?