Pakistan summons US envoy over Trump tweet
January 2, 2018
Islamabad called on the US envoy to Pakistan David Hale to explain US President Donald Trump's claims that Pakistan was harboring and aiding jihadists from neighboring Afghanistan.
Hale was summoned to Pakistan's foreign office on Monday, hours after the US president used his first tweet in 2018 to slam Pakistan for "lies & deceit." Trump also hinted at cutting or limiting US aid to Pakistan.
"The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars (€29 billion) in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools," Trump wrote on Twitter. "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"
The US embassy to Pakistan confirmed that the meet took place but refused to provide details on the conversation.
"We don't have any comment on the substance of the meeting," a spokesman said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahif Khaqan Abbasi is due to host a cabinet meeting that would focus on Trump's accusations on Tuesday, while country's top security officials would consider US ties on the next day.
US trapped in a 'dead-end street'
Following the tweet, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said Trump's comments were motivated by US failures in Afghanistan. Asif also said Pakistan did not need US aid.
"He has tweeted against us and Iran for his domestic consumption," Asif told Geo TV on Monday.
"He is, again and again, displacing his frustrations on Pakistan over failures in Afghanistan as they are trapped in dead-end street in Afghanistan."
Read more: China presses Afghanistan-Pakistan rapprochement
The US and Afghanistan have repeatedly accused Pakistan of links with Haqqani militants. The militant network is allied with the Afghan Taliban and conducts cross-border attacks.
Some observers claim Pakistan power structures try to use the jihadis against their regional rival, India.
dj/rc (Reuters, AFP)