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Islamabad on Sunday disputed the U.S. claim that it had canceled aid to Pakistan.
Earlier on Sunday, the U.S. and Pakistani media reported that Pentagon has decided to cancel $300 million in aid to Pakistan over alleged failure to take decisive action against militant groups.
"It was no aid which the Pentagon has decided to cancel but it was our money that we spent from our own resources and now Washington has to reimburse," Qureshi explained.
The U.S. military said it has decided to cancel $300 million in aid to Pakistan over alleged failure to take decisive action against militant groups, state-run media reported.Pentagon is seeking an approval from Congress, Radio Pakistan reported, quoting Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Kone Faulkner.The announcement comes days before U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo's expected visit to Pakistan to meet the new prime minister, Imran Khan.The U.S. blocked $500 million to Pakistan earlier this year, as part of its reimbursement for the country's role in the war on terror in Afghanistan.Relations between the two allies in the war against terrorism have deteriorated since January, last year, after U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office, mainly because of a clash of interests in war-torn Afghanistan.Washington accuses Islamabad of providing a safe haven to the powerful Haqqani network, which is blamed for numerous brazen attacks on foreign forces in Afghanistan.However, Pakistan denies the charges and said it needed acknowledgment of its sacrifices in the war on terror.
US military to end $300 million aid to Pakistan
"Pakistan has sacrificed thousands of lives and spent huge amounts from their own resources against terrorism and now U.S. had to reimburse that amount under the Coalition Support Fund," Shah Mehmood Qureshi, foreign minister of Pakistan told the reporters in the capital city Islamabad.
The foreign minister added that he would take this issue up with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's during his visit to Islamabad on Sept. 5.
“Currently Pakistan and U.S. ties are suspended but we will try to improve ties between Islamabad and Washington during Secretary Pompeo's upcoming visit to Islamabad,” Qureshi hoped.
Pakistan on Friday said it supported Iran’s “principled stance” on U.S.'s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal, hoping the remaining parties to the agreement would uphold their commitments.“Pakistan stands with Iran in this hour of need,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in capital Islamabad.Zarif, who is first foreign dignitary to visit Pakistan after installation of the new government, held meetings with Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, during his two-day visit.His visit came ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s visit to Islamabad next week.Indian court defers Jammu and Kashmir resident caseDiscussions were held between the two sides on regional and global issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry read.Expressing satisfaction over cooperation with regard to the Pakistan-Iran border, it was agreed to continue close consultations through various forums in this regard, the statement added.During his meeting with premier Khan, Zarif, conveyed to him the greetings and best wishes of the people and leadership of Iran on assuming office, said a statement from the Prime Minister House.Pakistan to raise anti-Islam cartoon issue in UNHe also delivered a message of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, inviting the prime minister for the upcoming Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Iran, in October 2018.Welcoming the Iranian foreign minister, Khan thanked the Iranian Supreme Leader’s support for Kashmiris’ struggle for their right to self-determination as well as for the manner in which Pakistan Independence Day was celebrated in Iran.Referring to cancellation of blasphemous Dutch caricatures competition, following Pakistan’s strong condemnation and protest recently, Khan underlined the need for the Muslim countries to confront Islamophobia with one voice.Pakistani party protests Dutch cartoon contestZarif also called on army chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the army headquarters in garrison city Rawalpindi.Regional security situation and other matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting, Pakistan army’s media wing said in a statement.The visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s contributions for prevention of conflict in the region, the statement concluded.New PM Khan to skip UN General Assembly to focus on Pakistan economy
Pakistan ‘stands by’ Iran on nuclear deal issue
Relations between the two allies in the war against terrorism have deteriorated since January, last year, after U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office, mainly because of a clash of interests in war-torn Afghanistan. Washington accuses Islamabad of providing a safe haven to the powerful Haqqni network, which is blamed for numerous brazen attacks on foreign forces in Afghanistan. However, Pakistan denies the charges and said it needed acknowledgment of its sacrifices in the war on terror.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that he would move the Organization of Islamic Council (OIC) to raise the matter of a Dutch anti-Islam cartoon contest in the United Nations.In a video message, the newly elected premier said: "This is not the issue of a single Muslim or country. This is the issue of every Muslim in the world."His message came as members of a religious party, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), began a march to capital Islamabad vowing to continue a sit-in until the expulsion of the Dutch ambassador.Khan said the issue could not be addressed by expelling an ambassador but through a joint stand against the Dutch Freedom party leader Geert Wilders, mastermind of the contest, in the UN through the OIC.A government delegation led by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is trying to persuade the protesters to end their march.Pakistani party protests Dutch cartoon contestHe added that a minority in the West was involved in Islamophobic and anti-Islam acts."This is our fault that we have failed to make them understand how important this issue is. How much it hurts us. Noble Prophet Mohammad lives in our hearts."Wilders, known for his anti-Islam stance, announced in June a contest to draw cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.The decision raised criticism across Muslim states, including Pakistan, as physical depictions of God or Prophet Mohammad are forbidden in Islam.Dutch politician calls off anti-Islam cartoon contest
Pakistan to raise anti-Islam cartoon issue in UN
A party in Pakistan called for the expulsion of the Dutch ambassador on Wednesday as it launched a protest against a far-right Dutch politician's plan for a cartoon competition featuring caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed.Hundreds of activists gathered in the eastern city of Lahore for the demonstration organised by Tehreek-e-Labbaik, a party that amassed the fifth largest number of votes in a general election last month having campaigned as a defender of the laws and punishments for crimes of blasphemy.The numbers were expected to swell if leaders of the party carry out a threat to take their protest to the capital Islamabad, to pressure Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan to cut diplomatic ties with the Netherlands."The Dutch ambassador should be immediately deported," Labbaik spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. "We will only stop when the government meets this demand."Pakistan has already complained to the Dutch government about far-right parliamentarian Geert Wilders' plans for a cartoon contest that will upset and provoke Muslims.Wilders intends to display the cartoons on the walls of his political party's room in parliament. He says he’s had "hundreds" of entries."The Foreign Office called the charge d'affaires of the Netherlands and issued him a Demarche' to record a protest," the Pakistani prime minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday.The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte said last week that the cartoon competition "was not something I would do" and his government was not associated with it.Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he planned to take up the issue with the United Nations and several world leaders. "They don't understand how much they hurt us when they do such acts," Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician, said on Tuesday, a day after the upper house of parliament condemned the proposed cartoon competition.Officials from the Punjab provincial government met with Labbaik leaders in Lahore in a vain attempt to persuade them to call off their protest."We told them to stop the protests because the Pakistan government is taking up the issue effectively," an official involved on the talks told Reuters, adding that Labbaik representatives insisted the protest would only end once the Dutch envoy was expelled.Last year, in a stand-off with the previous government, Labbaik shut down a main highway leading into Islamabad for nearly three weeks over a small change in wording to an electoral law changing a religious oath to a simple declaration. Labbaik said the change amounted to blasphemy.The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was forced to accept the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid, who Labbaik held responsible for the change, after seven people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in a failed attempt by police to disperse protesters. 
Pakistani party protests Dutch cartoon contest