Pakistan split on assisting America

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s parliament on Wednesday rejected US President Donald Trump’s warnings against harbouring terrorists as “hostile and threatening” and urged the government to consider suspending logistical cooperation provided to US troops in Afghanistan since 2001.

In a unanimously approved resolution, the National Assembly rejected Mr Trump’s “unacceptable targeting of Pakistan” when he announced his administration’s new strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia last week. He had suggested the two countries’ partnership may unravel if Pakistan continues providing sanctuary to the Afghan Taliban.

The lawmakers also rejected the more recent claim of Gen John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, that the Afghan Taliban maintain a leadership presence in Pakistan’s Quetta and Peshawar areas.

Their resolution denounces “the complete disregard and lack of respect for Pakistan’s immense sacrifices in countering terrorism”, saying its economy has lost more than US$123 billion while more than 70,000 Pakistanis have been victims of terrorism.

Mr Trump, in his Aug 21 address, said the United States has for too long “been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting”.

“But that will have to change, and that will change immediately,” he said. “It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilisation, order and to peace.”

In response, the resolution urges the government to consider suspending logistical support to the US military, namely the ground and air lines of communication through Pakistan, and postponing diplomatic exchanges with Washington.

It also called for the formulation “of economic policies to deal with any situation arising out of the absence of US assistance”.

The lawmakers also took issue with Mr Trump’s indication of a larger role in Afghanistan for India, Pakistan’s archenemy, which it sees as a destabilising force in the region.

Their resolution “condemns attempts by the Trump administration to provide more space to India in Afghanistan”.