Blocking of $450m aid may affect Pak-US ties: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Saturday said the blocking of $450 million in aid to Pakistan by the US House of Representatives could affect relations between the two countries.

Speaking in a programme of Current Affairs Channel, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan’s economy suffered $200 billion losses due to terrorism.

He said 65,000 Pakistanis also lost their lives due to terrorism including 6,000 personnel of the Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies (LEAs). He said Pakistan’s contribution to the war on terror and successes were acknowledged by the entire world including the US administration.

The spokesperson said Pakistan had been trying to hammer home the fact that terrorism was a global challenge and it could be tackled through collaborative efforts.  He said no one could doubt Pakistan’s sincere resolve to eliminate terrorism and in this regard no distinction was made among terrorists.

To a question about restrictions imposed by the US Congress on aid to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the matter would be resolved soon.

He said the Pakistan-US relationship was broad-based and multifaceted.  About Shakeel Afridi, the spokesperson said he was a Pakistani national and his case was before the judiciary.  He said Pakistan respected the laws of other countries and expected the same from others.