Due to Pakistan's lack of action against terrorist groups, the US has decided to cut $300 million in aid to the country. Lt Col Koné Faulkner says that the money will go to "urgent priorities" in the US. Pakistan has been accused of harboring terrorist groups like the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban and not making any decisive decisions. It has even gone so far to be said that these "safe havens" provided by Pakistan makes it easier for groups to attack Afghanistan. On Friday, the US announced that all funding for UN's Pakistani refugee policy would be cut.
After 9/11, there was suspicion that terrorism was coming from Pakistan. In the country, people struggled and fell into hopelessness. Research showed that hopelessness led to a larger chance of people joining terrorist groups. To counteract this, the US sent humanitarian funds and aid to Pakistan. In a parallel situation, President Harry Truman passed the National School Lunch Act in 1946 ensuring that all students would receive lunches. This was implemented because studies showed that lack of nutrition negatively affected mental health and behavior. Cutting funds for Pakistan is like taking lunch away from students. President Trump believes that the US has been deceived for years since he hasn't seen any changes. However, this might be a situation where seeing no change is better than a negative consequence like another attack on the US as we saw on 9/11. Taking away these funds could lead to a growth in terrorism that was being held at bay.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45386278
I believe the taking away of the fund may lead to conflicts with the United States and Pakistan. In the future, this could lead to a struggle in the US as a growth of terrorism may occur. -gracie zytynski
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