Sugarcoated pill from Trump to Pakistan-"want a great relationship with Pak, but country houses enemies"
Washington, Jan 3: US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US wants a “great relationship” with Pakistan, but cannot do so as “country houses enemies”.
The first comment by the US in 2019 about America- Pakistan disturbed ties, months after Washington stopped giving military aid of USD 1.3 billion to Islamabad, who is the former ally.
On Wednesday, while speaking with cabinet colleagues, Trump said, however meeting with the new leadership in Pakistan, PM Imran Khan will take place soon.
He stated that he stopped military aid to Pakistan because ‘South Asian countries houses enemies.
Further, he added, “They take care of enemy, we just can’t do that”.
About military aid, he said, “I ended USD 1.3 billion that we paid. I think it was water, we are just paying to Pakistan. So I ended it.”
He commented that Pakistan has not been fair to the United States. In November, Donald Trump took the decision to stop military aid with the statement that, Islamabad does not ‘a damn thing’ for the US and its government helped late al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden hide near its stronghold city of Rawalpindi.
He added, “They give safe haven to the terrorist we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”
The coming future between Washington and Islamabad will observe some “bitter pill”. The stand of US is going to create difficulties for new leader Imran Khan.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Prime Minister Khan in Islamabad in September last year and pressed him to take "sustained and decisive measures" against terrorists threatening the regional peace and stability.
