US increases aid for India allocating nothing for Pakistan in military aid

The United States’ budget for the South Asia includes raise for India and Afghanistan whereas Pakistan will be given noting under military assistance.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC).

Noteworthy to add that in that hearing on ‘U.S. Interests in South Asia and the FY 2020 Budget’ she spoke.

Most importantly, upcoming financial year budget does not include any security assistance for Pakistan’s military.

As per the HFAC press statement, the budget request seeks incresae for India and those for Afghanistan. It seeks to rationalise allocation for Pakistan.

The statement also refers to the February 14 Pulwama attack , saying it “underscored the importance and immediate need to halt terrorist activity in the region.

US administration also noted that the multilateral effort in sanctioning Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar at the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee sends an important message that the international community will not tolerate terrorism.

Although it admits Pakistan taken important steps to detain militants and seize their assets yet US downlayed actions as reversible.

The US urges Pakistan must sustain these measures and expand upon them, including by prosecuting terrorist leaders.

It emphasises that that terrorist organisations such as LeT/JeM will continue to pose a grave risk to international peace. It added they will pose risk as long as they are able to operate freely in Pakistan.

However, Alice Wells said that the administration already withheld $130 million in assistance to Pakistan due to Dr Afridi’s incarceration.

She also discussed nuclear issue, Afghan peace and Pulwama terror attack, etc.

US aid to Pakistan Army