ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Senate has strongly rejected the allegation made by US President Donald Trump regarding Pakistan, besides giving an impression that whole nation is united against America’s new policy statement.
The undivided response occurred on Thursday on the floor of the upper house when Senators spoke on a motion against the Trump’s new strategy for South Asia and criticism on Pakistan.
While speaking, some members suggested that US Ambassador should be summoned to Foreign Office to protest the the US statement.
Senators called for developing a national narrative against terrorism with the consultation of all stakeholders and the parliament, besides emphasising on reviewing the Pakistan’s foreign policy to ensure national interests, Radio Pakistan reported.
Giving a policy statement on Trump tirade in the Senate, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif refused any involvement of Pakistan in destabilising Afghanistan, adding, “Islamabad supported Washington and Kabul for establishing peace in Afghanistan through dialogue [with the Taliban]”.
He asserted that making Pakistan the scapegoat for failure in Afghanistan would not stablise it.
On Monday, Donald Trump while speaking as commander-in-chief accused Islamabad of harbouring “agents of chaos, violence, and terror” in order to increase pressure on the country to stop any re-emergence of safe havens to regional peace.
He said, “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond,” besides warning that Pakistan had much to lose by providing safe havens to terrorists.
He also cleared way for deployment of more troops in Afghanistan by backtracking his statement of ending war in Afghanistan swiftly.