Washington - In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s allegations that Pakistan is providing safe havens to terror outfits on its soil, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Chief Mike Pompeo doubled down on those claims in an interview to CBS.

The CIA chief said that they would “protect” the US if Pakistan fails to address the issue. “We see that Pakistan is continuing to provide safe havens inside of Pakistan for terrorists who present risks to the United States of America,” Pompeo said. “We are doing our best to inform the Pakistanis that that is no longer going to be acceptable,” he added.

“If they fix this problem, we’re happy to continue to engage with them and be their partner. But if they don’t, we’re going to protect America.” The statement came amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Washington with Trump lambasting Pakistan of giving nothing but “lies and deceit” adding that “they think US leaders to be fools”.

“They give safe havens to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” Trump said in his tweet last week.