The US under Coalition Support Fund (CSF) has disbursed $550 million late February/early March 2017 to Pakistan, and an additional $350 million has been authorised, but that amount is still dependent on certification from the US defence secretary that Pakistani counter-terrorism operations are disrupting the Haqqani Network's sanctuaries.
This was stated by US Embassy spokesperson Fleur Cowan, responding to Business Recorder query. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has confirmed this on its website that the country received $550 million under CSF in the current fiscal year; and received $937 million in fiscal year 2016 and $1.452 billion in fiscal year 2015. Budget documents 2017-18 however indicate Rs 74.5 billion external inflows under defence services receipts (referring to the Coalition Support Fund) against the budgeted amount of Rs 170.7 billion in 2016-17; however the amount disbursed so far is $550 million, around Rs 57 billion.
When the US Embassy Spokesperson was asked about the budgeted Rs 141.797 billion by the government of Pakistan on account of CSF for the next fiscal year 2017-18, she stated "I couldn't comment on the Government of Pakistan's budget figures, I think you should speak to the Government of Pakistan about that".
Under the US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), the US Congress has conditioned the release of the $350 million tranche to a certification by the US defence secretary, declaring that Pakistani military operations in North Waziristan were disrupting the freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network. The US defence secretary has yet to issue the certificate.
Sources said Pakistani officials in Washington are lobbying for the release of pending amount on account of CSF, but so far no breakthrough has been made. They pointed out that there are a number of issues which need to be resolved and additionally the Trump administration is yet to come up with a clear policy of engagement with Pakistan and Afghanistan including its policy on future assistance to Pakistan.
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