US blocks Pakistan's $300 million Coalition Support Fund payment

WASHINGTON - Following the refusal of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter to issue a certification to the Congress that Pakistan was taking sufficient action against the terrorist group such as Haqqani network, the Pentagon has blocked $300 million Coalition Support Fund payment to Pakistan.

The amount was to be paid as essential reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the Armed Forces of Pakistan in support of the US combat operations in Afghanistan.

In a statement, Pentagon Spokesman Adam Stump said: "The funds could not be released to Pakistan at this time as the Secretary is yet to certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network."

"With the Secretary’s decision not to issue certification, there is no additional FY-15 CSF available to Pakistan," he went on to say while responding a query.

It is also worth mentioning here that Pakistan has so far reimbursed $700 million out of a total of $1 billion authorised in the FY-15 under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).

For the FY-16, Pakistan has been authorised $900 million and of that $350 million is subject to the certification of the US Secretary of Defence.