US to suspend millions in aid to the Pakistani military

[Parthy]

Capable of operations sans US aid: Pakistan Army


A day after the US moved to suspend USD 800 million military aid to it, Pakistan army Monday claimed it would continue to conduct operations without American assistance, even while saying it had no official intimation of Washington's decision.

"We have no comments" on the move, said a spokesman for the Pakistani military in response to the reports, claiming, that US had suspended aid to Pak military.

"We have not received any official intimation or correspondence on the matter."

"The Pakistan Army, in the past as well as at present, has conducted successful military operations using its own resources without any external support whatsoever," the spokesman said.

Apparently, angered by Pakistan's reluctance to go full throttle in the war against terror, White House Chief of Staff Tom Donilon confirmed that US has decided to withhold a third of its annual USD 2.7 billion security assistance to Pakistan, reflecting months of bickering between the allies.

The US officials also indicated that the step was also in retaliation for Islamabad's call for a "significant cutback" of American military trainers on its soil.

The Pakistan army spokesman referred to a statement issued by General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on June 9, that US "military aid should be re-directed towards civilians wherever it is needed."

Kayani's extraordinary statement came after a meeting of the army's top corps commanders on June 9, where he recommended to the civilian government that US funds meant for military assistance should be "diverted towards economic aid...which can be used for reducing the burden on the common man."

The suspended aid includes about USD 300 million to reimburse Pakistan for deploying more than 100,000 troops along the Afghan border to flush out Taliban and al-Qaeda militants, New York Times reported.

The present Pak-US impasse comes as Washington has stepped up pressure on Islamabad to crack down on al-Qaeda linked Haqqani Taliban faction, who used Pakistani soil to launch attacks against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan army has claimed its troops are overstretched to undertake such an offensive on North Waziristan. US Media reports have said that Pakistani military intelligence still maintains its links with groups like Haqqani network.

"A series of events over the last eight months have affected our bilateral relations. As a result, the Pakistan Army has requested a significant cutback of US military trainers, and limited our ability to obtain visas," Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan had told PTI in Washington Sunday.

"While the Pakistani military leadership tells us this is a temporary step, the reduced presence of our trainers and other personnel means we can't deliver the assistance that requires training and support to be effective," Lapan said.

He was responding to a report in The New York Times that the US had suspended 800 million dollars in military aid to Pakistan.



Capable of operations sans US aid: Pakistan Army - Brahmand.com

 

[Dinku]

Without America money, not know how Pakistan manage.

Maybe small operation show done work.

Kiyani want money for civilian, not military.

Good sign.

Watch see if done really.

 

[Tshering22]

Somehow Pakistanis on PDF seem to be really happy about this saying that now they can get the US bases and transports canceled and blocked without any hesitation. They say that this money never reaches them (similar to our case) and that they're better off than fattening the bank accounts of Pakistani politicians via USAID.

 

[Yusuf]

Somehow Pakistanis on PDF seem to be really happy about this saying that now they can get the US bases and transports canceled and blocked without any hesitation. They say that this money never reaches them (similar to our case) and that they're better off than fattening the bank accounts of Pakistani politicians via USAID.

It's not just money alone but also equipment worth a few millions that have been blocked. Next we could hear no more F-16s. We will see then who says what and rejoices.

 

[Energon]

This is a welcome step. It is a common practice for Pakistanis to blame America for everything, but the truth of the matter is that the hard working American tax payer has been footing the bill for Pakistan for a long time only to have those funds abused.

All the Pakistani "analysts" are going on about how this move will hurt the US because it will make the Pakistanis even more antagonistic toward the US and incite the Pakistani military to make deals with the various militant groups. To that I say... let them. These threats of "give us your money or else" have gone on for way to long and it's time to put an end to it.

The other threat is about Pakistan becoming China centric. Sure, go for it. Let's see how much aid the Chinese are willing to give for humanitarian causes. Pakistan has always jumped from one benefactor to another only to end up in one disaster after the next. This will not be any different. Not only does China refrain from doling out cash, but their cheap goods and construction projects (using their own labor) are probably going to undermine the Pakistani economy even further. Letting a few ships and submarines dock at Gwadar (while being surrounded by armadas of the US 5th fleet and the Indian navy) isn't going to achieve anything; also JF-17s do not help pay the bills. But hey if air show fly-by's are more important than human development then by all means go ahead.

I think the US leadership is finally coming around to the idea that it is pointless to try and win (or rather buy) the "hearts and minds" of Pakistanis. We can only go so far to save the Pakistanis from themselves. If their leadership refuses to value the sanctity of the social fabric and tolerates people who are willing to blow themselves up then so be it; as long as they confine this activity to their own borders.

It is absurd for the Pakistani military and intelligentsia to spew venom at the American public while shamelessly accepting sustentative aid because they think they are entitled to it. Everyone is willing to cry foul at the drop of a hat and complain of abandonment, but nobody bothers to remember how much the US rallied to get Pakistan the IMF aid only to have those funds abused as well. People also forget that the US has made efforts to help Pakistan in past. In fact Pakistan up until 1964 was the second most industrialized nation in Asia after Japan. Yet it was the Pakistanis themselves to laid all of this to waste. They fail to realize that the West and the US in particular would be glad to invest in the nation; but only if it's worth it. But time and time again they have proved that it's not.

Biden has had it right all along. Stop all this futile assistance to parties who do not deserve it and concentrate on covert ops and predator drones to curtail AQ's activities in Pakistan. The smaller footprint in Afghanistan can be sustained via air links and routes through central Asia. Whatever money remains ought to be invested in fostering economic relationships with willing partners like India and Brazil where there are actual gains to be made.

If Pakistanis and Afghanis are so intent upon living in a medieval hell hole then the all the power to them.

 

[Yusuf]

Well, actually I am skeptical about this move. We have seen the US being forced to back pak once a few convoys are torched. It happened last time as well.

 

[Energon]

Well, actually I am skeptical about this move. We have seen the US being forced to back pak once a few convoys are torched. It happened last time as well.

The difference is that the US congress is now against the perpetuation of the old ways. It is hard for a commander in chief to persist with a policy when the congressional forces are against him; besides, it seems like Obama himself has had enough of this. I honestly believe that the US has gone out on a limb and given Pakistan multiple chances to redeem themselves, but time and time again such offerings have been abused. I think from here on out if the Pakistani establishment doesn't deliver on what they say then they shouldn't expect any remittances from the American tax payer.

 

[Yusuf]

The difference is that the US congress is now against the perpetuation of the old ways. It is hard for a commander in chief to persist with a policy when the congressional forces are against him; besides, it seems like Obama himself has had enough of this. I honestly believe that the US has gone out on a limb and given Pakistan multiple chances to redeem themselves, but time and time again such offerings have been abused. I think from here on out if the Pakistani establishment doesn't deliver on what they say then they shouldn't expect any remittances from the American tax payer.

The pakistanis have been good with "showing" enough fight to get money. They coue that with some fear mongering, some blackmail to have their way. I really hope the US does not fall for that now.

 

[Energon]

While welcoming the suspension of aid to Pakistan's military i however would like to see the money still go to Pakistan as proper directly funded american programs for building hospitals schools(not madrasas) etc, maybe under the aegis of one of the liberal Pakistani leaders organisations(read Shabaz bhatti and his ilk). Pakistan's islamization can only be controlled once the money that flows into the villages form the Wahhabist's in Saudi Arabia and the larger middle east is supplanted by liberal cash being brought in by american donations via reformist/secular organisations in Pakistan.Another thing that could be done is funnel this money to the sindhi hindus/pakistani Christians who have long been at the mercy of the state when it comes to bettering their ilk.

The offer to assist Pakistan's human development has been around for a long, long time. It is the Pakistani military that usurps all the funds or refuses to let experienced Western experts manage the programs. Why should we keep pouring money into a black hole? Funding select groups in an already fractional society is going to make things worse.

The pakistanis have been good with "showing" enough fight to get money. They coue that with some fear mongering, some blackmail to have their way. I really hope the US does not fall for that now.

So do I

 

[thakur_ritesh]

I think from here on out if the Pakistani establishment doesn't deliver on what they say then they shouldn't expect any remittances from the American tax payer.

is it really so? will some sort of a legislation be introduced and will that be specifically pakistan oriented? anything on the WB, IMF front as well on the loans they have given?

my understanding is if it were to get very bad the UN could as well be involved, what is the perception on this in the US?

 

[JayATL]

Pakistan in entire history has been not just a military that depends on foreign hardware, like India ( I know things are changing slowly in India)- but unlike India, it has been a military that is highly dependable on military aid to sustain itself.

Their bet is that China will take the role from the US going forward. Now- What they are forgetting is china's hardware is unproven. there is not a lot of talk about it and little we gleem from the chinese is academic.. academically( or on paper) soviet MIG 21 was great- but we know in the real world tests the aircraft proved be a challenge and not in a positive way.

 

[p2prada]

If Pakistanis and Afghanis are so intent upon living in a medieval hell hole then the all the power to them.

The Americans took over 2 countries, killed millions, millions more are homeless and the Taliban does not have the power to hurt the USA. This is what the fanatics have come to believe and know, that USA is their true enemy. Right now the Taliban take their "revenge" by killing the few NATO soldiers they are capable of targeting. Once NATO leaves, where will they direct all that hate. It is for certain that the Taliban will make peace with Pakistan. It is for certain that the Taliban will try to reclaim their home country of Afghanistan. It is for certain that Pakistan will once again help select few Taliban clans that ISI deems fit to support in achieving that goal. Once accomplished, it is for certain that they will need a new enemy to hate and kill. That hate will be directed at India. Let it take five years or even ten years. The end result will be an ideological tilt towards hating a country close to the Americans, and that's obviously us.

The Americans leaving Afghanistan is bad news for India.

 

[p2prada]

academically( or on paper) soviet MIG 21 was great- but we know in the real world tests the aircraft proved be a challenge and not in a positive way.

Beg to differ. If you are talking about the Mig-21s India has in 2011, then yes. But when the Mig-21 came out in the 60s, it was feared. It was the Su-30 of the 60s and 70s.

 

[JayATL]

The Americans took over 2 countries, killed millions, millions more are homeless and the Taliban does not have the power to hurt the USA. This is what the fanatics have come to believe and know, that USA is their true enemy. Right now the Taliban take their "revenge" by killing the few NATO soldiers they are capable of targeting. Once NATO leaves, where will they direct all that hate. It is for certain that the Taliban will make peace with Pakistan. It is for certain that the Taliban will try to reclaim their home country of Afghanistan. It is for certain that Pakistan will once again help select few Taliban clans that ISI deems fit to support in achieving that goal. Once accomplished, it is for certain that they will need a new enemy to hate and kill. That hate will be directed at India. Let it take five years or even ten years. The end result will be an ideological tilt towards hating a country close to the Americans, and that's obviously us.

The Americans leaving Afghanistan is bad news for India.

why stop at claiming the Americans killed millions, why not go for it all and claim they killed trillions! - heh. fact: in Iraq over 90% of civilians deaths were caused by the jihadi's , in Afghanistan the same odds. making statements that americans killed millions is irresponsible, highly inaccurate and propaganda like

now regarding Americans leaving Afghanistan- they won't, we are sitting in china's backyard- the Americans will have a few troops , maybe like they are now talking in Iraq ( 10-20k) for a long long time. I don't discount that all of this still does not absolve risks to India...

 

[Pakistani Nationalist]

Pak hits back dont need your money @ usa:

Islamabad: Pakistan has hit back at the US for suspending military aid to Pakistan. In a statement, DG, Inter-Services Public Relations, told Pakistan media, "Pak does not need foreign aid for anti-terror operations. We conducted SWAT and Waziristan operations without any aid."George Perkovich, an expert on Pakistan with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said the suspension of aid represent "the end of happy talk," where the US tries to paper over differences between the two nations.

This comes a day after the US decided cut backits military aid to Pakistan following Islamabad's request for a "significant cutback" of American military trainers on its soil. (Read: US to suspend millions in aid to the Pakistani military)

"A series of events over the last eight months have affected our bilateral relations. As a result, the Pakistan Army has requested a 'significant cutback' of US military trainers, and limited our ability to obtain visas," Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan said.

"While the Pakistani military leadership tells us this is a temporary step, the reduced presence of our trainers and other personnel means we can't deliver the assistance that requires training and support to be effective," Lapan said.

He, however, refrained from discussing any specific figure of aid suspension to Pakistan.

The White House Chief of Staff, Tom Donilon, however, confirmed that the figure was indeed US $800 million as reported by The New York Times.


US cuts military aid, Pak says don't need your money
US cuts military aid, Pak says don't need your money

 

[Energon]

is it really so? will some sort of a legislation be introduced and will that be specifically pakistan oriented? anything on the WB, IMF front as well on the loans they have given?

my understanding is if it were to get very bad the UN could as well be involved, what is the perception on this in the US?

It is hard to introduce legislative measures on unpredictable foreign policy matters in real time, particularly on this incredibly bizarre situation we find ourselves in vis a vis Pakistan. However like I said, congressional pressure makes a far more powerful tool. After the assassination of OBL the entire US polity is now looking inward, and rightly so. The out of control debt and slow economic growth has everyone clamoring to save their own tails. Obama himself realizes this. He has shown a dramatic shift in policy turning away from massive military budgets and futile nation building hand outs. Mind you he is doing this in spite of strong opposition from his military advisers.

As per the NY times article the IMF started withholding payments because of suspected fraud especially after the devastating floods in 2010. In terms of future involvement of WB, IMF and the UN it is up to those bodies. We rallied hard for Pakistan's IMF loans in 2008 after all the supposed "friends of Pakistan" pulled a hit and run, and that didn't work out too well. To me it doesn't seem like the IMF is likely to sink any more money into Pakistan and there is hell of a lot of donor fatigue on everyone else's part.

I think our best hope is that the Pakistani establishment wakes up and gets it's house in order. However if they fail to do this and things get really bad then any further assistance has to be turned into a global effort. After all Pakistan poses a risk to everyone, not just the US. If they put their nuclear arsenal on ebay the country most at risk is India. Pakistan based radicals are a serious threat to Western Europe and the Saudis themselves are feeling the pressure of the blowback. And China is unlikely to want another client state liability like North Korea on their hands. It is only fair that everyone chips in to keep Pakistan solvent, even if barely.

 

[JayATL]

Pak hits back dont need your money @ usa:

Islamabad: Pakistan has hit back at the US for suspending military aid to Pakistan. In a statement, DG, Inter-Services Public Relations, told Pakistan media, "Pak does not need foreign aid for anti-terror operations. We conducted SWAT and Waziristan operations without any aid."George Perkovich, an expert on Pakistan with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said the suspension of aid represent "the end of happy talk," where the US tries to paper over differences between the two nations.

This comes a day after the US decided cut backits military aid to Pakistan following Islamabad's request for a "significant cutback" of American military trainers on its soil. (Read: US to suspend millions in aid to the Pakistani military)

"A series of events over the last eight months have affected our bilateral relations. As a result, the Pakistan Army has requested a 'significant cutback' of US military trainers, and limited our ability to obtain visas," Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan said.

"While the Pakistani military leadership tells us this is a temporary step, the reduced presence of our trainers and other personnel means we can't deliver the assistance that requires training and support to be effective," Lapan said.

He, however, refrained from discussing any specific figure of aid suspension to Pakistan.

The White House Chief of Staff, Tom Donilon, however, confirmed that the figure was indeed US $800 million as reported by The New York Times.


US cuts military aid, Pak says don't need your money
US cuts military aid, Pak says don't need your money

What did you expect they would say " pretty please , we beg you?" - this is obvious political grandstanding and BS statement. if not- why did they beg for aid to begin with? why could they have not told the Americans we don't need the aid from the get go? your army and ISI has been on the American payroll since Pakistan was created...

 

[agentperry]

the JNU think tank says that it is a NOORA KUSHTI going on between usa and pakis. common if you see 6 decade old relationship between them.
nothing wil change between their relations and they will continue to have engagement even in long run.
usa wil continue to fund pakis and all the dismemberment conspiracy are just fantasies of old thugs and high bp retired rejected dejected surplus think tanks

 

[p2prada]

why stop at claiming the Americans killed millions, why not go for it all and claim they killed trillions! - heh. fact: in Iraq over 90% of civilians deaths were caused by the jihadi's , in Afghanistan the same odds. making statements that americans killed millions is irresponsible, highly inaccurate and propaganda like

now regarding Americans leaving Afghanistan- they won't, we are sitting in china's backyard- the Americans will have a few troops , maybe like they are now talking in Iraq ( 10-20k) for a long long time. I don't discount that all of this still does not absolve risks to India...

You have misunderstood my post. It is not me who claims all that. What I am saying is that the radicals will support that belief in order to twist the populations perception of America and her allies and friends.

"This is what the fanatics have come to believe and know" ----this statement should have cleared it.

 

[sanjay]

Pakis are whining/cursing their heads off over the aid cutoff: