US follows Donald Trump's Twitter talk with action, blocks USD 255 million in military aid to Pakistan

The United States of America, following up on a threat levelled by its president Donald Trump, has indeed suspended financial aid to Pakistan.

News agency PTI reported it was able to get a White House confirmation that America would not be sending $255 million in military aid to Pakistan for now. The agency quoted an unnamed Trump administration official to report the confirmation.

The United States does not plan to spend the USD 255 million in FY 2016 in Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan at this time," PTI quoted the official as saying.

"The president has made clear the US expects Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorists and militants on its soil, and that Pakistan's actions in support of the South Asia Strategy will ultimately determine the trajectory of our relationship, including future security assistance."

The development, which IndiaToday.in was unable to independently confirm, came just hours after US President Donald Trump delivered a rude New Year shock to Pakistan. Lashing out Islamabad, Trump said his country had "foolishly" spent billions in giving aid but got nothing in return except lies and deceit.

"The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools," Trump tweeted before suggesting that his administration would stop aid to Pakistan.

The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018

"They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Trump said, sending the Shahid Khaqan Abbasi government in Pakistan into a huddle and causing the Pakistani defence ministry to respond in a similar language.

"Pak as anti-terror ally has given free to US: land & air communication, military bases & intel cooperation that decimated Al-Qaeda over last 16yrs, but they have given us nothing but invective & mistrust. They overlook cross-border safe havens of terrorists who murder Pakistanis," the ministry said via an unverified Twitter handle.

Islamabad also summoned the US ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale, in order to lodge a protest over Trump's tweet, local media reported.

Trump's tweet, seen by many as a surprise, comes after months of Washington increasing the pressure on Islamabad to be more transparent and committed in the fight against terrorism. The Trump administration in the US has repeatedly called Pakistan out for providing 'safe haves' for terrorists, charges that Islamabad has repeatedly denied.

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