Rand Paul introducing bill to eliminate aid to Pakistan

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Thursday said he would soon introduce legislation that would eliminate U.S. aid to Pakistan and set the money aside for domestic infrastructure projects.

In a video address posted online, Paul blasted Islamabad for what he said was its willingness to harbor terrorist groups within Pakistan’s borders while continuing to take billions of dollars in assistance from Washington. 

“The United States should not give one penny to countries who burn our flag and chant ‘Death to America,'” Paul said. “Countries like Pakistan that stonewall access to key information in fighting terrorism don’t deserve our money.”

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“I say we should stop now,” he added. “Stop sending your hard-earned tax dollars to Pakistan.”

Paul, who introduced a bill in 2015 to end aid to the Palestinian Authority, said he was energized by President Trump’s recent comments criticizing U.S. assistance to Pakistan, calling the president’s position on the matter “a breakthrough.”

“I’ve been fighting to end Pakistani aid for years. But now we have a breakthrough,” Paul said. “President Trump has publicly called to end their aid, and is currently holding up over $200 million of it. I want to end all of it.”

Paul’s comments came shortly before the State Department announced that the U.S. would freeze security assistance to Pakistan amid frustrations over the country’s failure to confront extremists within its borders. 

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Thursday that the Trump administration is still working out the exact dollar amount of the aid cut, but noted that it would be a large amount. The freeze also applies to the delivery of military equipment to Pakistan.