US security assistance to Pakistan remains suspended, says Biden administration

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<strong>The suspension of US security assistance to Pakistan – in place since January 2018 when the Donald Trump administration said that Islamabad was not cooperating in the fight against terrorism – continues, the Pentagon announced Monday night.<br />
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"At this time, US security assistance to Pakistan is still suspended, and I won't get into speculating one way or another about if or whether that will change going forward," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said while replying to a question during a media briefing on whether the Joe Biden administration is reviewing the policy.  <br />
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Kirby's statement came just after US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin got off a phone call with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss "shared regional interests and objectives" late Monday evening.  <br />
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"During the call, Secretary Austin reiterated his appreciation for Pakistan's support for Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and expressed his desire to continue to build on the U.S.–Pakistan bilateral relationship. Secretary Austin and General Bajwa discussed regional dynamics and our shared interest in security and stability in the region," the US Department of Defence said in a statement.<br />
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As the U.S. military is currently conducting retrograde operations to leave Afghanistan – the deadline for withdrawal is September 11, 2021 – Austin has been on phone with Bajwa regularly over the past few weeks.<br />
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He spoke to the Pakistani General in April and March, discussing Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and the drawdown in Afghanistan.<br />
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Earlier this week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also held a meeting with the Pakistan National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf in Geneva.<br />
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"Both sides discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest and discussed ways to advance practical cooperation. Both sides agreed to continue the conversation," the White House said.<br />
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As the U.S. military personnel return home, their equipment in Afghanistan will be shipped back, sold, destroyed or moved elsewhere.<br />
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With the presence of Pakistani Taliban, al-Qaida, and ISIS besides other terror groups in Afghanistan, it comes as a no surprise that the Biden administration is treading carefully.    <br />
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Since 2006, the United States government has provided more than $200 billion for programmes providing security assistance and security cooperation to foreign countries. The Departments of State (DOS) and Defense (DOD) are the primary U.S. government agencies involved in providing security sector assistance and related support to foreign governments, militaries, and international organizations and groups.<br />
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The Pakistani military in particular had got billions in security aid over the years. Islamabad was in 2016 the sixth largest recipient of US security assistance and cooperation funds.<br />
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However, following Trump's directive in January 2018, Washington immediately suspended USD 1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan.<br />
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Under the suspension guidelines, the United States will not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan unless required by law. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis if they are determined to be critical to national security interests.<br />
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US civilian assistance programmes in Pakistan were not included in the suspension.<br />
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The assistance was provided for Pakistan’s security forces to bolster their counterinsurgency efforts though the country led by Imran Khan still remains a big worry in the region.<br />
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The 2019 Country Report on Terrorism released by the US Department of State mentioned that Pakistan still remained a "safe harbor" for other regionally focused terrorist groups.  <br />
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"It allowed groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated HQN, as well as groups targeting India, including LeT and its affiliated front organizations, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), to operate from its territory," the annual report said.  <br />
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"It did not take action against other known terrorists such as JeM founder and UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack “project manager” Sajid Mir, both of whom are believed to remain free in Pakistan," it added.<br />
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Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also retained the deep state on its grey list since 2018 for failing to make progress on countering terror-financing and money laundering.</p>