US Senate blocks US $300 million aid to Pakistan, puts conditions

Ignoring concerns of the White House, the US Senate has moved to block US $300 million military aid to Pakistan unless the Defence Secretary certifies that Islamabad is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network.This forms part of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017 passed by the Senate 85-13 votes on Tuesday. Notably Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is yet to give the necessary certification to Pakistan for a similar legislation passed by the Congress last year under NDAA-2016.As a result the Pentagon has not been able to release US $ 300 million of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2015-2016 ending September 30 this year. However, the Senate version of the NDAA differs with that of the House, which calls for blocking US $ 450 million of the US $ 900 million US aid to Pakistan in coalition support fund.The Senate version has reduced both the figures respectively to US $ 300 million and US $ 800 million. Ahead of the Senate voting on NDAA-2017, the White House had opposed any such move. "We share concerns regarding the threat posed to our forces and interests in Afghanistan by the Haqqani Network, and we continue to engage with Pakistan at the highest levels regarding the need for concerted action specifically against the group," the White House said in a statement on June 8.The restriction imposed by the Senate would unnecessarily complicate progress in US-Pakistan bilateral relationship on this issue and would limit the Secretary of Defence's ability to act in the US national security interest, the White House said. The White House had made similar objection to the House version of the National Defence Authorisation Act.