CRICKET star turned opposition leader Imran Khan has criticised Donald Trump as “ignorant and ungrateful” after the US president accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists.
Khan also taunted the Trump administration by challenging the president to explain how “a couple of thousand or so [Taliban-allied] Haqqanis allegedly in Pakistan are supposed to be the cause of why the most well-equipped military force in history ... cannot succeed” in Afghanistan.
In a series of rambling tweets, Khan also criticised Pakistan’s participation in the US-led war on terror in which Islamabad is a US ally. He said he opposed the war on terror from its outset.
The cricketing hero, with a reputation internationally as a playboy and in Pakistan as an Islamic conservative, has ambitions to be Pakistan’s next prime minister. Khan’s denunciation followed top Islamabad officials’ response to Trump’s New Year’s Day tweet against Pakistan.
Washington has confirmed it will withhold $255 million (£188 million) in US military aid to Pakistan this year, following a threat from last August when Trump announced an Afghan policy which took aim at neighbouring Pakistan, demanding an end to Islamabad’s alleged support for the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan denies supporting militants, pointing to its own war against extremist groups battling to overthrow the government. The war in Afghanistan has now entered its 17th year, with an ever-growing mix of insurgents and militant factions operating in the country, including a Daesh affiliate in the region.
“Pakistan has now suffered the ultimate insult [by] being made the scapegoat for US failures in Afghanistan,” Khan tweeted.
On Monday, Trump tweeted that the US had “foolishly” given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid in the last 15 years and had gotten nothing in return but “lies & deceit”.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership said Trump’s tweet ran counter to meetings held with US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and defence secretary Jim Mattis following the announcement of Trump’s Afghan policy.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel