Akhtar Soomro / Reuters
The Trump administration has quietly started cutting Pakistan’s officers from training and educational programs that have been a key part of the two countries’ military relations for over a decade. Reuters reports it’s a direct result of Trump’s decision to suspend U.S. security assistance to Pakistan in an attempt to force the country to tackle Islamist militants. The Pentagon and the Pakistani military hasn’t commented directly on the move, but officials from both countries privately criticized it to Reuters. U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were concerned it could undermine trust between the two countries; Pakistani officials warned it could push their military to look to China or Russia for help instead. The decision will close off places that had been set aside for 66 Pakistani officers this year. Dan Feldman, a former U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, called the move “very short-sighted,” adding: “This will have lasting negative impacts limiting the bilateral relationship well into the future.”