In September, the Trump administration cancelled USD 300 million in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough against terror groups active on its soil.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan, saying the country does not do "a damn thing" for the US and its government had helped Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hide near its garrison city of Abbottabad.
The compound was demolished shortly after US Naval Special Warfare Development Group forces, in a daring helicopter raid, killed Laden there in 2011.
In September, the Trump administration cancelled USD 300 million in military aid to Islamabad for not doing enough against terror groups active on its soil.
The ties between the two countries strained after Trump, while announcing his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in August last year, hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to "agents of chaos" that kill Americans in Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that it has "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists.
Earlier in January, Trump said that the US has "foolishly" handed Islamabad more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years while getting nothing in return.
Trump's views on Pakistan are well-known as he often targeted the Islamic nation publicly in his speeches and tweets before assuming the office of the POTUS.
Here is how he has expressed his views on Pakistan after assuming office:
1. November 18, 2018: Pakistan doesn't do 'a damn thing' for US
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Referring to Laden and his former compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Trump in an interview to Fox News said, "You know, living think of this living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion, I don't know, I've seen nicer."
"But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there," he added.
"And we give Pakistan USD 1.3 billion a year. ... (Laden] lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them USD 1.3 billion a year -- which we don't give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us," he said.
(Photo: AFP)
2. January 1, 2018: US has foolishly given Pakistan more than USD 33 billion
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"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," Trump tweeted.
(Photo: AFP)
3. December 18, 2017: We make massive payments every year to Pakistan, they have to help
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"And 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," Trump said in his remarks as he announced the National Security Strategy (NSS).
(Photo: Reuters)
4. October 13, 2017: Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan
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"Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts," he said in a tweet.
(Photo: Reuters)
5. August 21, 2017: Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror
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"For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror. The threat is worse because Pakistan and India are two nuclear-armed states whose tense relations threaten to spiral into conflict. And that could happen," Trump said in his South Asia policy speech.
"The next pillar of our new strategy is to change the approach and how to deal with Pakistan. 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. Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbour criminals and terrorists."
"We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately. No partnership can survive a country’s harbouring of militants and terrorists who target US service members and officials. It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilization, order, and to peace," he said.
(Photo: Reuters)
6. June 27, 2017: Trump, Modi call on Pakistan to stop use of its territory for terrorist attacks on other countries
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India-US joint statement: "The leaders (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump) called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries. They further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups.
(Photo: Reuters)
