U.S.’ security assistance to Pakistan falls by 73 per cent since 2011

According to a report, the US’s security assistance to Pakistan has declined by 73% since 2011 due to the deterioration in ties following the killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. The report prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) covers both military and economic assistance given between 2002 and 2015 as well as those earmarked for fiscal years 2016 and 2017.

Details:

• Besides decline in security assistance, the report also shows a 53% decrease in economic assistance since 2011.
• Security aid fell from nearly $1.3 billion in 2011 to $343 million in 2015. Economic aid declined from nearly $1.2 billion in 2011 to $561 million in 2015.
• Recently, the US decided not to pay $300 million in military reimbursements to Islamabad over its alleged reluctance to act against the Haqqani network. The cancelled $300 million payments were in the form of Coalition Support Fund CSF, under which Pakistan has received $14 billion since 2002. Nearly half the CSF assistance to Pakistan is used for food and ammunition.
• The data shows that CSF accounts for 43% of $32.2 billion worth of US government financial transfers to Pakistan from 2002 to 2015. Economic aid comprises 33% of transfers at $10.6 billion followed by 24% in security aid at $7.6 billion.

Background:

The bilateral relationship started deteriorating after the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a daring US Navy SEALs raid in Abbottabad and a U.S. airstrike on a Pakistani border post in Salala that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.