U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is applauding President Trump’s decision to suspend aid to Pakistan.
Trump said this week that Pakistan has given the US nothing but "lies and deceit,” and is safe haven for terrorists.
Senator Paul told WKU Public Radio that Pakistan is not a reliable ally.
"They persecute Christians. They have a man in prison who was a doctor who helped us get information that led to capturing Osama bin Laden," Paul said. "You have rumors and innuendo that their intelligence agency helps the Haqqani network which are killing our soldiers across the border in Afghanistan."
The Bowling Green Republican says the U.S. has sent 30-billion-dollars in aid to Pakistan over the past decade, and that money would be better spent at home on infrastructure.
Pakistan has rejected such criticism, pointing out that it has launched military operations against Islamic extremists and that 17,000 Pakistanis have died fighting militants or in attacks by extremist groups.
Senator Paul said Congress must reconsider how much money is sent abroad, especially to wealthy countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
