DAVOS – President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated speech at the WorldEconomic Forum (WEF) is unlikely to do anything to improve bilateralrelations with Islamabad, Pakistan foreign minister told CNBC on Wednesday.
Speaking at WEF in Davos, Switzerland, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said: “Franklyspeaking, we are a bit apprehensive from what we have been hearing fromover the past one year (and) we don’t expect any radical departure fromwhat he has been saying.”
The U.S. president is due to arrive in Davos this week, as the Swiss Alpinetown hosts the annual meeting of global business and political leaders.Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech to WEF attendees Friday.Afghanistan is ‘just one problem’
Pakistan’s Asif said he hoped the U.S. and the South Asian nation couldsoon focus on their bilateral relationship once again, rather than just”through the prism of Afghanistan.”
“The whole relationship should not hinge on just one problem in ourregion,” he added.
In his first tweet of 2018, Trump said the U.S. had “foolishly” handedPakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years while gainingnothing in return but “lies and deceit.”
It was not clear what prompted Trump’s criticism of Islamabad, although hehas long complained Pakistan is not doing enough to tackle Islamicmilitants.
In response, Pakistan said it had launched military operations to push outmilitants from the country and, since 2001, more than 17,000 Pakistanis haddied fighting militants or in bombings.
Furthermore, just a day after Trump’s tweet lambasting Pakistan, itscentral bank announced it would replace the dollar with the yuan forbilateral trade and investment with China.
When asked whether he was concerned diplomatic ties between Washington andIslamabad had reached an irrevocable conclusion, Asif replied: “It isrepairable, there is absolutely no doubt about it.”