ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, in response to a tweet by US President Donald Trump, said that
Pakistan has already refused to ‘do more’ for the United States.
“We have already told the US that we will not do more, so Trump’s ‘no more’ does not hold any importance,” Asif told a private TV channel.”
Pakistan is ready to publicly provide every detail of the US aid that it has received,” Asif said in a strongly worded statement in response to Trump’s tweet accusing
Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists that US was hunting in Afghanistan.
“The United States has foolishly given
Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have gi
ven us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” Trump said in a tweet on Monday. Regarding the US President’s claims of giving billions in aid to
Pakistan, he said, “The claim by Trump regarding the funds, if we account for it, they include reimbursements too for the services rendered by
Pakistan.
Our land, roads, rail and other different kinds of services were used for which we were reimbursed. A proper audit took place for the reimbursements,” he said. The minister said Trump was disappointed at the US defeat in Afghanistan and that was the only reason he was flinging accusations at
Pakistan. He also spoke against the US military presence in Afghanistan, stating that peaceful negotiations are the only possible solution in the neighbouring country.”They (US) are reinforcing their failure in Afghanistan by extending their military presence but only a peaceful solution is possible,” he said. “It [US] should, instead, try to negotiate with Taliban in Afghanistan.” Former foreign minister and
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, “
Pakistan has to move forward taking into account its own interests, irrespective of whether it gets US aid or not.”He added that
Pakistan needs to look to regional powers like China, Iran, Turkey and even the European Union who understand regional situation and
Pakistan’s position much better.
Although
Pakistan has presented its narrative time and again, there is a lot of room for its improvement, Qureshi said. “US allies can be taken into confidence, but that is not happening,” he said, adding, “Unfortunate
ly the challenges
Pakistan faces – national or international – are not being addressed.” He also criticised the delay in government’s response on the situation, saying Trump’s statement should have been
preempted. He also criticised Trump’s use of Twitte
r on a matter as serious as foreign affairs. “Foreign relations have their own importance and tweets could create further confusions.”
Published in Daily Times, January 2nd 2018.