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US cuts Pakistan security assistance over terror groups US cuts Pakistan security assistance over terror groups
(35 minutes later)
The US government is cutting almost all security aid to Pakistan, saying it has failed to deal with terrorist networks operating on its soil.The US government is cutting almost all security aid to Pakistan, saying it has failed to deal with terrorist networks operating on its soil.
The state department said the freeze would remain in place until Islamabad took action against the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban.The state department said the freeze would remain in place until Islamabad took action against the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban.
Earlier this week, President Trump accused Pakistan of lying and deceiving the US while receiving billions in aid.Earlier this week, President Trump accused Pakistan of lying and deceiving the US while receiving billions in aid.
The Pakistan government has forcefully pushed back against the US, a key ally.The Pakistan government has forcefully pushed back against the US, a key ally.
After the earlier comments by Mr Trump it called attacks on it by US officials "incomprehensible" and said they "negated the decades of sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation".After the earlier comments by Mr Trump it called attacks on it by US officials "incomprehensible" and said they "negated the decades of sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation".
The US stance has been praised by India and Afghanistan, but China, which is investing tens of billions in Pakistan, has backed it.The US stance has been praised by India and Afghanistan, but China, which is investing tens of billions in Pakistan, has backed it.
The Trump administration had already delayed handing over $255m in military aid to Pakistan.The Trump administration had already delayed handing over $255m in military aid to Pakistan.
In announcing the restrictions, state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said she could not yet put a dollar value on how much aid was being cut.In announcing the restrictions, state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said she could not yet put a dollar value on how much aid was being cut.
She said the US government considered that the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network were "destabilising the region and also targeting US personnel".She said the US government considered that the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network were "destabilising the region and also targeting US personnel".
On Thursday, the state department also placed Pakistan on a special watch list for "severe violations of religious freedom".On Thursday, the state department also placed Pakistan on a special watch list for "severe violations of religious freedom".
Who are the militants Pakistan supports? Who are the militants Pakistan is alleged to support?
The Haqqani network is a militant group that focuses most of its activities on neighbouring Afghanistan, which has complained for years that Pakistan allows it to operate unimpeded from its soil across the border.The Haqqani network is a militant group that focuses most of its activities on neighbouring Afghanistan, which has complained for years that Pakistan allows it to operate unimpeded from its soil across the border.
The group is linked to the Taliban - a hardline Islamic movement that has posed a major threat to the Afghan government and has also threatened to destabilise Pakistan. The group is linked to the Afghan Taliban - a hardline Islamic movement that poses a major threat to the Afghan government. Pakistani Taliban groups, while associated with the Afghan Taliban, focus on attacks within Pakistan.
Who are the Taliban? Both the Haqqani Network and the Afghan Taliban have launched attacks in Afghanistan that have killed US forces, and US officials have long argued that Pakistan, and specifically its ISI intelligence service, provides safe havens to them.
Both groups have launched attacks in Afghanistan that have killed US forces, and US officials have long argued that Pakistan provides safe havens to them. The New York Times has reported that US officials were last year denied access by Pakistani officials to a member of the Haqqani network who they believed could help with information on an American hostage.
The New York Times has reported that US officials were last year denied access by Pakistani officials to a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network who they believed could help with information on an American hostage.
Why would Pakistan support them?Why would Pakistan support them?
Although Pakistan has allowed its territory to be used to supply international troops during the war in Afghanistan, and co-operated with the West in fighting some terrorists groups like al-Qaeda, analysts say it has continued to give shelter and support to Afghan insurgents. Pakistan has long been accused of using the Afghan Taliban to further its foreign policy interests in the country. The ISI first became involved in funding and training militants in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1979.
Its aim has been to limit India's influence in Afghanistan - but is also influenced by Pakistan's disagreements with Kabul, says Shashank Joshi of the Royal United Services Institute. Although since 2001 Pakistan has allowed its territory to be used to supply international troops during the war in Afghanistan, and co-operated with the West in fighting some terrorists groups like al-Qaeda, analysts say it has continued to give shelter and support to Afghan insurgents.
Its aim has been to limit the influence in Afghanistan of its chief regional rival, India.