Pak nat’l security council meets on Trump tweet

FE Team | Published: January 02, 2018 23:36:06

Pakistan's National Security Council (NSC) met on Tuesday with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair to discuss US President Donald Trump's most recent accusations, reports Dawn News.
In his first tweet of the new-year, Trump had accused Pakistan of basing its relationship with the US on "nothing but lies and deceit". "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" the US president had said.
Pakistan's ambassador to the US was summoned to the NSC meeting, which was set to discuss Pakistan's response to President Trump's fresh tirade while also reviewing the country's overall foreign policy.
Shortly before the meeting commenced, the military had finalised its suggestions for Pakistan's response to Trump's allegations in a Corps Commanders' Conference held at General Headquarters.
A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security has also been called on January 5 to discuss the US's allegations.
The US president's tweet had come in the aftermath of an increasingly terse back-and-forth between Washington and Islamabad since Trump announced his administration's latest national security strategy.
During the announcement, the US president had been quick to remind Pakistan of its 'obligation' to help America "because it receives massive payments" from Washington every year.
"We have made clear to Pakistan that while we desire continued partnership, we must see decisive action against terrorist groups operating on their territory. And we make massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help," the US president had said.
A Pentagon report to the US Congress, released to the media on Dec 17, had said Washington would also take 'unilateral steps' in areas of divergence with Pakistan while expanding cooperation between the two countries where their interests converge.
According to Reuters, earlier on Monday Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador in protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's angry tweet about Pakistan's "lies and deceit", while Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed the outburst as a political stunt. David Hale was summoned by the Pakistan foreign office on Monday to explain Trump's tweet, media said. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad confirmed the meeting took place.