PAK REJECTS USA CRITICISM, SAYS SETTLE KASHMIR ISSUE

Pakistan on Wednesday rejected US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the country for harbouring terrorists and said the Kashmir issue is the “primary obstacle” to peace and stability in the region.

Trump signalled a toughening of the US position on Pakistan for sheltering terror groups. He also spoke of working more closely with India, which he called on to provide more economic aid to Afghanistan.

In a terse reaction, the Foreign Office advised the US to work with Pakistan to eradicate terrorism “instead of relying on the false narrative of safe havens”.

It also noted that regional peace and security “could not be isolated from the complex interplay of geopolitics, continued existence of festering disputes and pursuit of hegemonic policies” — an apparent reference to India’s role in Afghanistan.

“Non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary obstacle to peace and stability in the region,” it added.

US officials have warned that aid to Pakistan might be cut and Washington might downgrade Islamabad’s status as a major non-Nato ally to pressure it to do more to help end America’s longest-running war in Afghanistan.

But foreign minister Khawaja Asif rejected the US criticism, saying Pakistan should not blamed for the failure of the US military. Pakistan, he said, had suffered great losses because of terrorism — the government estimates 70,000 people have died since it joined the US-led war on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks.