The United States announced Thursday it was suspending security assistance to Pakistan for failing to take 'decisive action' against Taliban militants targeting U.S. personnel in neighboring Afghanistan. Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the restrictions covered security assistance above and beyond the $255 million for Pakistani purchases of American military equipment that the administration held up in August. She told reporters that until Pakistan takes 'decisive action' against those groups, security assistance was suspended. U.S. assistance to Pakistan, which rose sharply after the 9/11 attacks, has been declining since 2011 when American commandos killed Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan, straining relations. Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Wilson Center's South Asia program, said suspension of U.S. security assistance to Pakistan would not torpedo relations but it was a significant step backward.

Source: Daily Mail January 04, 2018 23:37 UTC