“No decision on coalition support fund to Pakistan,”US

The US said “no decision” has been made with respect to disbursement of next tranche of Coalition Support Fund to Pakistan and future security assistance to the country has not been taken off the table.

“We have certainly not taken future security assistance off the table and Pakistan continues to be a high priority counterterrorism and defense partner for the US,” Defence Department Spokesman Major Roger M Cabiness told media.

The spokesman was responding to questions on recent media reports that the Pentagon is having second thoughts on its security assistance to Pakistan in particular those related to CSF given that the US is unhappy with its reluctance to take strong action against the Haqqani network.

“No decision has been made with respect to the CSF,” Cabiness said.

For the disbursement of next tranche of CSF the Secretary of Defense needs to certify to the Congress that the Pakistani Army is taking strong action against terrorist organisations like Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The related file has not reached his table yet.

“The United States strongly supports ongoing Pakistani counterterrorism efforts. Pakistan has suffered at the hands of terrorists and violent extremists, and the United States will continue to work closely with Pakistan to achieve our shared goal of defeating violent extremists to ensure the safety of our people today and in the future,” he said.

Cabiness said the Coalition Support Fund is a demonstration of American commitment to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorist threats throughout the country.