US cuts off security aid to Pakistan

<p>Washington D.C. [U.S.A.], August 3 (ANI): The United States Congress has slashed the security-oriented financial aid to Pakistan by approving a $716.3-billion defence authorisation bill.</p><p>The move comes after the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2019 increased the military expenditure and opted to not bring any changes in policy, reported Geo News.</p><p>As per the recent NDAA, the security aid to Pakistan has been cut down to $150 million---having once begun from almost $750 million per year to $1 billion.</p><p>The NDAA 2019, which was earlier passed by the US House of Representatives in the Senate, has now been sent to US president Donald Trump for approval.</p><p>Meanwhile, this cut down in the aid hints at the United States' failure to pressurise Pakistan to take actions against the several terrorist outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Haqqani network.</p><p>In January this year, the United States made its stand clear that the aid to Pakistan has only been suspended and not cut-off, as it wanted the country to take an aggressive approach in eliminating terrorism.</p><p>Earlier this year, the US had announced that they were stopping the military aid to Pakistan, as it was not taking "necessary steps" to curb terrorism.</p><p>US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert had said the embargo would remain in place until Pakistan takes action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network. (ANI)</p><br/><center><em><p>This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI</p></em></center>

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