Pak on aid cut: Unilateral acts counterproductive
MUTED RESPONSE Says US ‘shifting goalposts’ will affect war on terrorism
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday responded to the US suspension of more than $1 billion in security-related aid by saying “unilateral pronouncements and shifting goalposts” would be counterproductive for the war on terrorism.
The US said on Thursday the assistance would be suspended till Pakistan showed tangible evidence of decisive action in combating terrorists operating from its soil. The action followed a tweet by President Donald Trump on New Year’s day about cutting off all aid to Islamabad for its “lies and deceit” in the fight against terrorism.
The official reaction issued by the Foreign Office was more measured than the angry reactions from some Pakistani leaders, including foreign minister Khawaja Asif.
“Working towards enduring peace requires mutual respect and trust along with patience and persistence,” the Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement.
“Arbitrary deadlines, unilateral pronouncements and shifting goalposts are counterproductive in addressing common threats,” the spokesman said, adding that the emergence of “new and more deadly groups such as Daesh (Islamic State) in Afghanistan call for enhancing international cooperation”.
The Foreign Office statement pointed out Pakistan had fought the war on terror “largely from its own resources which has cost over $120 billion in 15 years”.
The statement also said Pakistan-us cooperation in fighting terror had “directly served US national security interests” and the larger interests of the world community.
However, Pakistan contended that its efforts to achieve peace were “awaiting reciprocal actions from the Afghan side in terms of clearance of vast stretches of ungoverned spaces on the Afghan side, bilateral border management, repatriation of Afghan refugees, controlling poppy cultivation, drug trafficking and initiating Afghan-led and owned political reconciliation in Afghanistan”.
The reaction from most quarters in Pakistan was muted, with officials insisting the country will be able to survive the new challenge. The prime minister’s adviser on finance said the economy “will survive despite the US withholding its funds”.