Pakistan's snubs cost it $800m in US military aid

The United States is withholding some $800 million (£500m) in military assistance from Pakistan in a show of displeasure over its cutback on US trainers, limits on visas for US personnel and other snubs, the Obama administration has said.

Pakistani authorities have "taken some steps that have given us reason to pause on some of the aid which we're giving to the military," White House chief of staff William Daley said yesterday on ABC's This Week with Christiane Amanpour.

As a result, "we'll hold back some of the money the American taxpayers have committed to give", he said, adding that this amounted to about $800m.

The US defence department said Pakistan's army had requested a "significant cutback" of US military trainers and limited the ability of US personnel to obtain visas.

"While the Pakistani military leadership tells us this is a temporary step, the reduced presence of our trainers and other personnel means we can't deliver the assistance that requires training and support to be effective," the department said in a written response to questions.

Relations between the two governments have been strained, with the US wanting Pakistan to intensify its counter-terrorism efforts.

The relationship also has been tense since the surprise US raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on 2 May in Pakistan, and over US drone attacks that have killed civilians and other issues.

The suspension of US aid follows a statement last week by Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, that Pakistan's security services may have sanctioned the killing of a Pakistani journalist who wrote about infiltration of the military by extremists.