President Donald Trump began the New Year on Monday with a blistering attack on Pakistan, saying the country has “given us nothing but lies and deceit”.
“The US has foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools,” Trump tweeted.Â
“They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” he added.
Trump’s announcement follows an increasingly tense back-and-forth between Washington and Islamabad after the US President unveiled his administration’s National Security Strategy.
“We have made it clear to Pakistan that while we desire continued partnership, we must see decisive action against terrorist groups operating on their territory,” Trump had said. “They have to help.”
The American president’s tirade was responded to briefly by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who said Pakistan would “soon” show the world the “difference between facts and fiction.”