The United States said on Tuesday it would announce specific actions against Pakistan by this week, and warned the country that it would have to do more to fight terrorism to continue getting aid.
“We know that Pakistan can do more to fight terrorism, and we want them to step up and do that,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters. “In terms of specific actions, I think you’ll see some more details come out on that in the next 24 to 48 hours...”
Sanders was responding to a request for more details on a tweet by President Donald Trump on Monday when he said the US had “foolishly” given Pakistan $33 billion (Rs 2.10 lakh crore) in aid over the last 15 years. In return, Pakistan had given the US nothing but “lies and deceit”, he had claimed.
Trump also said US operations in Afghanistan were being affected because Islamabad provided “safe haven” to terrorists.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, accused Pakistan of playing a “double game” in the fight against terror, Reuters reported. Haley said the US would withhold $255 million (approximately Rs 1,620 crore) in assistance to Pakistan.
“There are clear reasons for this,” Haley said. “Pakistan has played a double game for years...They work with us at times, and they also harbour the terrorists that attack our troops in Afghanistan. That game is not acceptable to this administration. We expect far more cooperation from Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.”
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