ISLAMABAD – Long-time, trusted ally China has defended Pakistan’s record ofcombating “terrorism” in the wake of a withering attack by US PresidentDonald Trump, who accused Islamabad of ‘lies and deceit’ in an angry tweeton New Year.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, in a meeting with National SecurityAdviser National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua onTuesday, said Beijing acknowledged Pakistan’s matchless sacrifices in thewar against terror.
He added that the country stood firmly with Islamabad in all situations andreiterated China’s commitment to the security and stability of Pakistan.
On Trump’s tweet about Pakistan, the two sides called for politicalreconciliation in Afghanistan and an end to the conflict.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang, whenasked during a regular briefing on Tuesday about Trump’s tweet, did notmention the United States but defended Pakistan’s contributions incounter-terrorism.
“We have said many times that Pakistan has put forth great effort and madegreat sacrifices in combating terrorism. It has made a prominentcontribution to global anti-terror efforts,” he said. “The internationalcommunity should fully recognise this.”
Meanwhile, the US confirmed it had blocked a $255 million military aid toPakistan, saying the country was reviewing Islamabad’s cooperation insecurity areas.
On Monday, Trump said that the United States had “foolishly” handedPakistan more than $33 billion in aid in the last 15 years and had beenrewarded with “nothing but lies and deceit”. “They give safe haven to theterrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”
Pakistani officials say tough US measures threaten to push Pakistan furtherinto the arms of China, which has deepened ties with Islamabad afterpledging to invest $57 billion in infrastructure as part of its vast Beltand Road initiative.
Analysts say Trump’s tweet signals that the fraught US-Pakistan ties arelikely to worsen in 2018. “The trend lines have not been good, and thetweet gives an indication of the turmoil that awaits in 2018,” said MichaelKugelman, the senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center.