'US deliberately delaying funds to pressurise Pak to "do more" against Taliban'

Islamabad, Jan. 19 (ANI): Senior Pakistani officials have blamed the US of deliberately delaying the reimbursement under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to pressurise Islamabad to 'do more' against the Taliban and other banned extremist groups operating from inside the country.

However, US Embassy spokesperson Richard Snelsire has rejected any such motive in the delay of releasing funds under the CSF.

Snelsire said it is rather Pakistan's refusal to grant visas to American officials that is delaying the reimbursements.

"Pakistan is holding up visas to our officials who need to come to Pakistan for completion of paper work that is mandatory before the reimbursement of claims payable to Pakistan," The Nation quoted Snelsire, as saying.

He said during his recent Islamabad visit, President Obama's Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke had asked the Pakistan government to issue visas to US officials who may come here to complete documents to make the reimbursement of Pakistan's claims as early as possible.

Pakistan's expenditure on account of the military operation in Waziristan is expected to be one billion dollars during current financial year 2009-10 which it could claim as a reimbursement from the US under the CSF. (ANI)