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| U.S. Will Withhold Security Aid From Pakistan | U.S. Will Withhold Security Aid From Pakistan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The United States will suspend nearly all security aid to Pakistan, the Trump administration announced on Thursday in a sign of its frustration with the country’s refusal to confront terrorist networks operating there. | |
| Administration officials said as much as $1.3 billion could be frozen, although Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman, did not provide an estimate of the total aid funds affected. | |
| Ms. Nauert said the suspension could be lifted if Pakistan changed its behavior by doing more to fight terror groups. | |
| “Pakistan has the ability to get this money back in the future, but they have to take decisive action,” she said. | |
| The suspension includes an estimated $1.1 billion in Coalition Support Funds for Pakistan, which is provided by the Pentagon to help pay the costs of the country’s counterterror operations. | |
| The Trump administration had delayed $255 million in State Department aid until Pakistan did more to crack down on terrorism. Relations between the United States and Pakistan have deteriorated since the summer, when President Trump accused the country of giving “safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror.” | |
| American officials had also demanded access to a militant who was captured by Pakistani forces during the rescue of a Canadian-American family in October. The militant was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, but Pakistan rejected the Americans’ request. | American officials had also demanded access to a militant who was captured by Pakistani forces during the rescue of a Canadian-American family in October. The militant was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, but Pakistan rejected the Americans’ request. |
| However, Ms. Nauert added, “There may be some exceptions that are made on a case-by-case basis if determined to be critical to national security interests.” Internal government talking points that were obtained by The New York Times described the suspension as “a freeze, and does not reflect intent to reprogram funds at this time.” | |
| The United States has provided Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid since 2002. | The United States has provided Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid since 2002. |
| Additionally, the State Department announced earlier on Thursday that it had placed Pakistan on a special watch list for what it described as the country’s severe violations of religious freedoms. The announcement was part of the administration’s annual accounting of violations by countries as required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. | Additionally, the State Department announced earlier on Thursday that it had placed Pakistan on a special watch list for what it described as the country’s severe violations of religious freedoms. The announcement was part of the administration’s annual accounting of violations by countries as required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. |
| As Pakistan has become more religiously intolerant in recent years, in part driven by a growing proliferation of religious schools funded by Saudi Arabia, attacks on religious minorities have increased. | As Pakistan has become more religiously intolerant in recent years, in part driven by a growing proliferation of religious schools funded by Saudi Arabia, attacks on religious minorities have increased. |