US suspended security assistance as Pak failed to act on terror safe havens: White House
The US has made it clear to Pakistani leaders that it expects them to constructively address the problem of militant safe havens in the country, the White House said after President Donald Trump and
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan faced off over the issue that has impacted bilateral ties.
Trump on Sunday accused Pakistan of not doing “a damn thing” for the US. He cited Osama bin Laden and the Taliban resurgence in neighbouring Afghanistan as examples of how Pakistan would “take our money and do nothing for us”.
Khan reacted angrily by saying that his country had suffered enough by fighting terrorism on behalf of the United States.
“Now we will do what is best for our people and our interests,” the cricketer-turned politician said on Twitter.
The White House defended Trump’s decision to suspend security assistance to Pakistan.
“The (Trump) Administration has been clear to Pakistani leaders that it expects them to constructively address the problem of militant safe havens in Pakistan,” an official from the National Security Council, the White House, told PTI.
“Because Pakistan failed to address the problem, the Administration suspended security assistance,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
“We remain hopeful that Pakistan will realise it is in its own interest to cooperate …read more