Washington, July 15: The United States has reassured Pakistan that it would keep sending it civilian assistance in the wake of its decision to hold back a third of its military aid over disagreements in the war on terror efforts.

US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Thomas Nides conveyed the message in a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.

The statement came after it deferred 800 million dollars in military aid to Pakistan in a bid to seek greater defence cooperation.

"We do have the slowdown on the security side, but our civilian assistance remains undeterred. We continue to work productively on the civilian side. That assistance continues to flow," the Daily Times quoted US State Department spokesman Mark Toner, as saying.

Toner said the United States had given Pakistan 2 billion dollars in civilian aid since a major congressional bill was approved in 2009. Of the aid, 550 million dollars was provided as emergency relief for Pakistan's massive floods last year.

The United States suspended the military assistance - about one third of its 2.7 billion dollars annual defence package, two months after Osama bin Laden was killed in a US operation in Abbottabad on May 2.

After the raid, while the United States pledged to keep relations steady with Pakistan, its frustration mounted, including over Islamabad's decision to oust up to 200 US personnel who planned to train Pakistani forces.
(ANI)