After Trump’s ‘tirade’, Pentagon endorses Pakistan’s ‘critical role’ in US South Asia strategy

WASHINGTON: Following the recent tirade of the United States (US) President Donald Trump against Pakistan, the Pentagon elucidated that no change has taken place in the Pak-US military relations.

According to details, responding to a question related to the series of tweets from Trump and his interview to Fox News, in which he alleged Pakistan for doing nothing for the US, Colonel Rob Manning, Director of Defense Press Operations, said, “They [Pakistan] remain a critical partner in our South Asia strategy and there’s been no change to our military-to-military relationship with Pakistan.”

Speaking to media men during an off-camera news conference, the official stressed, “The US and Pakistan have a strong mutual interests in the region. As you know, they are critical (and) vital to the South Asia strategy and including the facilitation of a peace process that would lead to a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.”

Trump’s Tirade

In his latest tweet the US president alleged that America paid Pakistan billions of dollars and they never told them that Osama was living there.

“Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center. President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools!

“…We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That’s ENDING!” he wrote on his Twitter account.

PM Imran Khan’s rejoinder

In response to Trump’s accusation against Pakistan, Imran Khan said the US president’s false assertions added insult to the injury Pakistan had suffered in the US war on terror in terms of lives lost and destabilised and economic costs.

“He needs to be informed about historical facts. Pakistan has suffered enough fighting US’s war. Now we will do what is best for our people and our interests,” he said.

Trump’s false assertions add insult to the injury Pak has suffered in US WoT in terms of lives lost & destabilised & economic costs. He needs to be informed abt historical facts. Pak has suffered enough fighting US’s war. Now we will do what is best for our people & our interests

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018

The PM took to Twitter, further saying: “Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops & reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before.”

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