Why Trump stopped aid to Pakistan as president? Former NSA reveals in book
File photo of Donald Trump.
Former US president Donald Trump stopped aid to Pakistan after it emerged that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was in "undeniable complicity" with the terrorists, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA)Lt Gen (retd) HR McMaster has revealed in his book.
McMaster in his latest book,"At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House" stated thatdespite Trump's diktat, the then defence secretary, Jim Mattis, planned to deliver a military package worth $150 million to Pakistan that included armoured vehicles.
“It was difficult to get State and Defence even to comply with Trump’s directives to stop certain activities. I discovered that contrary to the South Asia strategy, which called for the suspension of all aid to Pakistan with a few exceptions,"McMaster wrote in the book.
"When Mattis visited Islamabad in the coming weeks, the Pentagon was going to deliver a military aid package that included more than USD 150 million worth of armoured vehicles."
After Trump heard about Mattis's plans, he called for a meeting with him, the CIA deputy director and other senior officials.
"I started by noting that the president (Trump) had been very clear on multiple occasions to suspend aid to the Pakistanis until they halted support for terrorist organisations that were killing Afghans, Americans, and coalition members in Afghanistan," wroteMcMaster.
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"We had all heard Trump say, 'I do not want any money going to Pakistan',” saidMcMaster as Mattis reluctantly halted the shipment of assistance.
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'Lies and deceit'
Up until Trump decided to cut funding to Pakistan in 2018, the US had shelled billions to combat terrorism and insurgents in the region without any tangible results.
Consequently, on New Year's Day, Trump posted: "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!"
Pakistan has been the hotbed of terrorism in the region, exporting terrorists to neighbouring countries, especially India. Despite the dent in assistance from Washington, Islamabad continues to be a terrorist-churning-factory that threatens to destabilise peace in the region.
(With inputs from agencies)