WASHINGTON DC (TIP): The US Department of Defense withheld military payments to Pakistan, after Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told Congressional defense committees that he was unable to certify that Pakistan took sufficient action against the Haqqani network to permit full reimbursement of the fiscal year 2016 Coalition support funds (CSF). The Pakistan-based Haqqani network has been accused for carrying out many high-profile terror acts against US and Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. This is the second year in a row that the Defense Secretary has refused to certify to Congress, as mandated under National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), that Pakistan has taken satisfactory action against the Haqqani network.

Pakistan had been allotted $900m in military aid to through the special fund. The country has already received $550m of that, but Mattis’ decision means $50m will be withheld. The remaining $300m was rescinded by Congress as part of a broader appropriations act, earlier this year. The Coalition Support Fund (CSF) authority reimburses key cooperating nations for logistical, military and other support provided to US combat operations. Pakistan is the largest recipient of CSF reimbursements, having received more than USD 14 billion since 2002.

The US is in the process of reviewing its policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Last week, the State Department in a report to the Congress had listed Pakistan as one of the countries having terrorist safe havens. Sanjay Puri, Chairman, US India Political Action Committee, welcomed the announcement adding, “USINPAC has been advocating for years to reevaluate military aid to Pakistan. We cannot have US taxpayer money going towards terror attacks against US and Indian interests from groups in Pakistan.”