WASHINGTON – The US believes that suspending security assistance toPakistan is important to put pressure on it to act against terror safehavens, the White House has said as it defended President Donald Trump’sremarks that Islamabad had given America nothing but “lies and deceit”.
Early this month, the US freeze security aid to Pakistanlink>fornot taking any decisive action against terrorists operating from its soil.
President Trump also accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terroristgroups like the Taliban and the Haqqani Network and used his first tweet ofthe year to criticise Islamabad over the issue.
“The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billiondollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing butlies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven tothe terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” Trumphad said in the tweet.
When asked if the White House stands by the comments the president made inthe tweet, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders responded by saying“yes”.
“Our position is firm: that we believe that withdrawing that aid isimportant,” Sanders said.
Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said the SecurityCouncil should step up pressure on Pakistan to “change its behaviour”.