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.One of the corner stones of the conventional wisdom that is the foreign policy community some times called, "The Blob," is that Pakistan is a crucial ally in the, "War on Terror."
The State Department’s declaration signaled growing frustration over Pakistan’s cooperation in fighting terrorist networks, but it was not immediately clear how much money and materiel was being withheld. The vague details suggested the primary goal was to substantiate President Donald Trump’s surprising New Year’s Day tweet that accused Pakistan of playing U.S. leaders for “fools.”
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.
Nauert said details were still being worked out on the additional funds, and referred questions to the Defense Department. Earlier Thursday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the policy on military aid was “still being formulated.”
I remember that Osama bin Laden lived for many years in, and was found, and killed, in the same neighborhood as the Pakistani military academy, as well as their long history of playing footsie with the Taliban, so I am inclined to think that they are a part of the problem.
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