Trump salvos: US envoy summoned
IRRESPONSIBLE DIPLOMATIC BEHAVIOUR CAN ESCALATE TENSION, ANALYST CAUTIONS
Instead of blaming Pakistan, Washington must revise its policies regarding Pakistan and review its reasons for failures in Afghanistan.”
Dr A.Z. Hilali | Political analyst
Pakistan summoned the United States Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad yesterday to protest US President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism and the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Trump’s comments over the last few days have angered Pakistan, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who on Monday hit back by saying on Twitter that few allies had sacrificed or helped the US as much as Pakistan in its war on terror, suffering 75,000 casualties.
The friction threatens to worsen already fragile relations between Islamabad and Washington, on-off allies which have repeatedly clashed over the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s alleged support for Islamist militants.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua called in US envoy Paul Jones “to register a strong protest on the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan”, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Over the weekend, Trump said in an interview Pakistan doesn’t “do a damn thing” for the US despite billions of dollars in US aid, and alleged Pakistani officials knew of former Al Qaida leader Bin Laden’s location before his killing by US troops in a raid inside Pakistan in 2011. On Monday, Trump tweeted again and doubled down on those claims.
“Rejecting the insinuations about OBL, Foreign Secretary reminded the US [Charge d’Affaires] that it was Pakistan’s intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL,” the ministry said.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi also made it clear that Pakistan cannot be held responsible for US failures in Afghanistan. “Pakistan has paid with blood in the war on terror. We lost 75,000 people and our economy lost an estimated $123 billion (Dh451.4 billion). The United States is safer today because of our contributions and it’s a shame to hear statements that don’t take those facts into account,” Qureshi said in his tweet responding to Trump’s allegations
Political analyst Dr A.Z. Hilali termed the allegations by Trump “an irresponsible diplomatic behaviour” that could further escalate regional tension. “Pakistan has rendered matchless sacrifices and lost much in the war against terrorism. Instead of blaming Pakistan, Washington must revise its policies regarding Pakistan and review its reasons for failures in Afghanistan,” he suggested.
‘Baseless allegations’
Defence analyst Lt Gen (Retd) Gulam Mustafa says Imran’s response to Trump’s “baseless allegations” against Pakistan truly represents the sentiment of the whole nation. “Despite using force and technology, US failed to achieve its goals and maintain peace in Afghanistan, which is why Taliban still have strong hold in the country” he commented, adding that “The US government must realise that the political situation of the region has changed and Pakistan is not dependent on Washington anymore.”
Analyst Brig (Retd) Haris Nawaz emphasised that “Pakistan’s role in war against terrorism cannot be undermined as the country has rendered unparalleled sacrifices. The success that US have achieved in Afghanistan against Al Qaida was made possible to support of Pakistan.”