US transfers funds meant for Afghanistan, Pakistan for building Mexico wall

The United States is transferring USD 1.5 billion originally meant for the Afghan security forces and the Pakistan military to a fund to help pay for construction of the US-Mexican border wall, according to acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan.

"We reprogrammed USD 1.5 billion toward the construction of more than 120 miles of border barrier without impacting readiness," Shanahan said in a statement late Friday.

"The funds were culled from a variety of sources, to include unexecuted prior year funds, the suspension of reimbursements to Pakistan, and costs reductions in a series of contracts," he said.

More than USD 600 million of these funds come from an Afghan security forces account. The US is also taking USD 78 million from the Coalition Support Fund, which is money used to reimburse Pakistan for logistical and military support for American military operations in Afghanistan.

The funds have been reprogrammed despite an increase in attacks inside Afghanistan and a complaint ..