A leading U.S. newspaper says Washington is “suspending and, in some cases, canceling” hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to the Pakistani military.
The New York Times cites three unnamed senior U.S. officials who say the move is aimed at chastening Pakistan for expelling American military trainers and to press Pakistan's army to fight militants “more effectively.”
The newspaper says about $800 million in military aid and equipment, or over one-third of the more than $2 billion in annual American security assistance to Pakistan, could be affected.
The New York Times reports the unidentified U.S. officials say equipment deliveries and aid would probably resume if relations between the U.S. and Pakistan improve and if Pakistan makes a commitment to pursue terrorists more aggressively.
Ties between Washington and Islamabad have been frayed since the surprise U.S. raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in early May.