Islamabad (January 02, 2018): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will chair a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Tuesday (Today). The agenda will primarily focus on US President Donald Trump’s tweet regarding Pakistan.
Earlier the cabinet meeting was scheduled on Tuesday and National Security Meeting was scheduled on Wednesday, however Federal Cabinet meeting date and time was changed from Tuesday to Wednesday. On the other hand, NSC, which was earlier scheduled on Wednesday, has been rescheduled for today.
The top civilian and military leadership of the country will attend the meeting.
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According to reports, the NSC meeting will be briefed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, while the Director General Military Operations will brief on the efforts taken in the fight against terrorism.
Pakistan’s Ambassador the United States, Aizaz Chaudhry has also arrived in Pakistan to attend the NSC meeting. He is expected to brief the NSC on his meeting with high-level officials in the US.
On Monday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned US Ambassador David Hale to record a protest over President Trump’s tweet.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, in a reply to the US president’s tweet, said Pakistan will let the world know the truth and will be responding to Trump’s tweet. He added that there is a difference between facts and fiction.
Earlier, United States (US) President Donald Trump on Monday began his new year by accusing Pakistan of giving Washington “nothing but lies and deceit”.
The US president tweeted that Islamabad thinks of US leaders “As Fools”.
He said Washington had “foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years.”
The US president’s latest tweet follows in the aftermath of an increasingly tense back-and-forth between Washington and Islamabad after Trump announced the administration’s latest national security strategy.
The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018
During the announcement, the US president was quick to remind Pakistan of its obligation towards helping 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 said.
In December 2017, the Pentagon also informed the US Congress that it would take ‘unilateral steps’ in areas of divergence with Pakistan while expanding cooperation between the two countries where their interests converge.
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