The committee meeting was chaired by Senator Salim Saifullah in which the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the committee. - File Photo

KARACHI: The Foreign Office said on Friday that the United States cut of $500 million in aid to Pakistan was in response to the cutback in the number of US trainers in Pakistan, DawnNews reported.

The Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations has ordered an investigation into the matter.

The committee meeting was chaired by Senator Salim Saifullah in which the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the committee.

“The $500 million cut in US aid to Pakistan is due to the drop in US trainers in Pakistan,” said Ms Khar.

She further said that the US also withheld $300 million from the Coalition Support Fund.

According to the Foreign Office, the Standing Committee has proposed immediate suspension of all operations from the Shamsi air base.

Saifullah said there should be a formal understanding with the United States over the US-led war against terror and the visa policy.

He further said that the authority to grant visas to foreigners should only rest with the foreign office.

Moreover, the committee has asked for details of all US trainers entering Pakistan.