Pak snaps talks with US over Trump remarks

Islamabad, Aug. 29: Pakistan has suspended official visits and talks with the US to protest against President Donald Trump’s criticism of Islamabad for providing safe havens to militants, a media report said on Tuesday.

It was disclosed by foreign minister Khawaja Asif on Monday in the Senate, which converted itself into a committee to discuss the deteriorating relations with the US.

Mr Asif told the Senators that Pakistan had suspended talks and bilateral visits as a mark of protest, Dawn quoted sources as saying.

US secretary of state for South and Central Asia Alice Wells was supposed to arrive here on Tuesday, while the foreign minister himself was to travel to the US last week.

About the recently unveiled policy of the US President on South Asia, Mr Asif said it envisaged no military role for India in Afghanistan.

According to the sources, the minister said it was rather a role of economic development.

He claimed during the in-camera session of the committee that India would not be allowed to use Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan.

The members also asked the government to share a fact-sheet on US assistance received after 9/11 .

Foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua informed the house that a meeting of Pakistan’s envoys had been convened from September 5 to 7.