BISHKEK (TCA) — Pakistan authorities are considering the option of blocking supplies of US troops deployed in Afghanistan through its territory amid the diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Washington, Russia’s Sputnik news agency reports.
On January 1, US President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of providing “safe haven to the terrorists” despite multibillion US assistance to Pakistan. On January 4, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the United States was suspending the delivery of military equipment and security aid to Pakistan. According to the spokeswoman, such a measure was a response to the local authorities’ insufficient measures in the fight against terrorist groups.
Pakistani The Nation on January 8 reported, citing senior officials from the nation’s foreign ministry, that Islamabad was discussing the move, however the decision has not been made yet. The newspaper added that the move could be used in response to the diplomatic steps taken by the United States.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he’s not worried about Islamabad retaliating against Washington over its suspension of as much as $2 billion in military aid last week, RFE/RL reported.
“I’m not concerned, no,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon on January 5, when asked about concerns that the U.S. move might push Pakistan closer to China or prompt it to cut off the principal supply route for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, which runs through Pakistan.
During a period of high tension between Washington and Pakistan six years ago, Islamabad closed overland routes into Afghanistan for several months.
Even before last week’s suspension of military aid, Pakistan was developing closer ties with China, which has sold Islamabad military hardware and is financing major infrastructure projects in the country as part of Beijing’s Silk Road initiative.
