Pakistan foreign ministry criticizes US move to freeze $700 million aid

Pakistan foreign ministry criticizes US move to freeze $700 million aid

Pakistan foreign ministry on Thursday irately criticized the move of US Congress to freeze $700 million in aid to Pakistan saying that it was not based on facts.

Foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told the media reporters on Thursday that the move of United States to freeze civil aid to Pakistan shows they have taken a narrow vision of overall situation.

“We believe that the move in the US Congress is not based on facts and takes narrow vision of overall situation hence wrong conclusions are unavoidable,” said Abdul Basit while talking to the media reporters at a press briefing.

Earlier the US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a billion dollar defence bill, which required Washington to freeze aid of US$ 700 million to Pakistan until Islamabad offers greater assurances that Pakistan has taken steps to contain the spread
of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) against US-led forces in war-hit Afghanistan.

The US Senate is expected to vote on legislation on as early as Thursday. US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland has said that if the legislation got approval of the Senate then they would work with Pakistan government on how they could fulfill
the requirements.

“If this legislation becomes law, we’ll work with the government of Pakistan on how we can fulfill the requirements. But, this requires us to maintain a strategic perspective,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Responding to a query regarding the assurances US Congress wants from Pakistan, Abdul Basit said: “I think the real question has to be what has been done on the Afghan side of the border. Pakistan cannot be held responsible for weaknesses and loopholes on
the other side of the border.

The latest step being taken by the United States would further intensify fraying alliance between Islamabad and Washington that has been in deep crisis since Nato/ISAF November 26 airstikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. 

Responding to the unprovoked aggression of Nato and ISAF helicopters, Pakistan immediately shut down the vital US supply line into Afghanistan through its territory and ordered US personnel to leave the Shamsi air base within 15 days.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=6256

Posted by Asma Rafique on Dec 15 2011. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry