News Desk |
President Donald Trump has once again defended his administration’s decision of halting hundreds of millions of dollars military aid to Pakistan, saying the country does not do ‘a damn thing for us’. Speaking to Fox News’ Chris Wallace during an interview on Sunday, Trump alleged that Islamabad helped the then leader of Al Qaida, Osama Bin Laden to hide in the country.
“You know, living — think of this — living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion, I don’t know, I’ve seen nicer. But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there,” Trump said, referring to bin Laden and his former compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The compound was destroyed shortly after the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group forces, in a helicopter raid, killed bin Laden in 2011. “You’re not even going to give them credit for taking down bin Laden?” Wallace asked.
Trump was then reminded of the loss Pakistan bore in terms of human lives and finances in the war on terror, which Trump had conveniently forgotten.
“They took him down but — look, look, there’s news right there, he lived in Pakistan, we’re supporting Pakistan, we’re giving them $1.3 billion a year, which we don’t give them any more, by the way, I ended it because they don’t do anything for us, they don’t do a damn thing for us,” Trump responded.
It is important to mention that the United States has already cancelled $300 million in aid to Pakistan for alleged nonaction against militant groups. President Trump has been derisive towards Pakistan and its policies. Earlier in his New Year tweet, he accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists.
Read more: US seeks ‘reset’ in ties with Pakistan
“The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!,” He wrote in his tweet.
Trump was then reminded of the loss Pakistan bore in terms of human lives and finances in the war on terror, which Trump had conveniently forgotten.
#Pakistan has rendered countless sacrifices in War against Terrorism and has always taken indiscriminate action against any form of extremism.
Our commitment for lasting peace is unequivocal.
#PakistanFirst 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/kPBgAKpzdX— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 2, 2018
Now once again, journalists and analysts reminded Trump of the assistance Pakistan provided to the United States for its war on terror.
Moreover, @realDonaldTrump conveniently forgets Pakistan gave US free use of Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs) & Air Lines of Communication (ALOCs), totalling over a million overflights on Pakistani territory since 9/11, in return, US continues to withhold Pakistani money!
— Mushahid Hussain Sayed (@Mushahid) November 19, 2018
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari has said that Trump’s recent tirade against Pakistan should be a lesson to those leaders who appeased the US after 9/11.
Trump's tirade against Pak & his claim that that Pak does not do "a damn thing" for the US shd be a lesson for those Pak ldrs who kept appeasing the US esp after 9/11! The renditions; the loss of Pak lives in US WoT; the free space for Raymond Davis & other operatives; etc etc
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 19, 2018
The illegal killings by drone attacks; the list is endless but once again history shows appeasement does not work. Also, whether China or Iran, US policies of containment & isolation do not coincide with Pak strategic interests. https://t.co/tFBe9BentG
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 19, 2018
Some Analysts assert that Trump could be using a Diversion strategy. Trump’s party the Republicans were hammered in the recent American midterm elections. Trump is already in hot water over the links to Russian attempts to subvert the American elections and his woes have been increased with a rival Democrat majority bent on investigating the allegations. Trump’s recent attack on Pakistan could simply be a way to deflect public attention.