US withholds $800m in aid to Pakistan: White House

The United States is withholding some USD 800 million in military assistance to Pakistan in a show of displeasure over its cutback on US trainers, limits on visas for US personnel and other rubs, the Obama administration said on Sunday.

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 on ABC's "This Week with Christiane Amanpour."

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

The US Defense 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 United States wanting Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts. The relationship also has been tense since the surprise US raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 2 in Pakistan, US drone attacks that have killed civilians and a raft of other issues.