Kh Asif hits back at Pence for scathing remarks

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif Saturday hit out at US Vice President Mike Pence who during his surprise visit to Kabul issued a warning to Pakistan that it has much to lose by harbouring “criminals and terrorists”.

In a statement on his official Twitter account, the minister said: “Don’t blame or threat us, learn from our experience in war against terror…if that is our common objective.”

“Frustrations on diplomatic front in UN & war in Afghanistan are reflected in statements of US administration.”

The Foreign Office had responded to comments of US Vice President Pence by stating that allies do not put each other on notice. FO spokesperson told that the statement is at variance with the extensive conversations we have had with the US administration.

During his surprise visit to Kabul, the US vice president warned Pakistan that it had been harbouring terrorists for long but those are over.

Echoing Trump’s accusations when he unveiled the new strategy, Pence had sharp words for Pakistan, which he said had provided safe haven to the Taliban and other groups for too long.

“Those days are over,” Pence said. Pakistan had much to gain from partnering with the United States, and much to lose by harboring “criminals and terrorists,” he said at Bagram.

Pence arrived on a military plane at Bagram Airfield under the cover of darkness on Thursday night. He then flew by helicopter to Kabul, where he met President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah at the presidential palace.

 

 

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt