The US Congress has passed a defence spending bill capping its security-related aid to Pakistan at 150 Million dollars, significantly below the level of more than one billion US dollars per year.
The Senate passed the conference report on National Defense Authorisation Act-2019 (NDAA-19), by 87 to 10 votes yesterday. The House of Representatives had passed the conference report last week.
It now heads to the White House for President Donald Trump’s assent. The US has also voiced its disapproval of growing Chinese involvement in Pakistan, adding to tensions in bilateral ties.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday had cautioned the IMF against a possible fresh bailout for Pakistan’s new government to pay off Chinese lenders who have invested in the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
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