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Pakistani politicians strongly react to Trump's threatening posture

August 22, 2017

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (INP) In response to US President Donald Trump’s address this morning pertaining to the US strategy in Afghanistan, Pakistani politicians took to Twitter to express their views on the US president’s harsh comments against Pakistan. “So the US again blames Pak for its deeply flawed & failed Afghan policy stretching over a decade,” Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf [PTI], Imran Khan said in a series of tweets. We must also reject being made scapegoats for the policy failures of the US and India, he said. PTI chief criticised the US for blaming Pakistan for its own “deeply flawed and failed” policy towards Afghanistan. “Just as India blames Pak for the indigenous Kashmiri uprisings when these are a result of its own failed policy of military repression in IOK .. So the US again blames Pak for its deeply flawed & failed Afghan policy stretching over a decade,” he tweeted. “This should reach Pak once and for all a valuable lesson: never to fight others wars for the lure of dollars.” “We fought 2 wars in Afghanistan at the US behest paying heavy human and economic costs both times. We sacrificed 70000 Pak lives in US WOT,” Khan stated. “Our economy suffered over $100 billion in losses. In addition, there were intangible costs on our society. Time for Pak to say: Never again.” “We must also reject being made scapegoats for the policy failures of the US and India,” he added. Pakistan People’s Party [PPP] Senator and former Ambassador to US Sherry Rehman did not find anything new in US policy on Afghanistan. US policy on Afghanistan doesn't sound new. But the admin is new and its tactical plus geostrategic moves amplify old dogma to new levels Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan’s Syed Ali Raza Abidi raised concerns on US-India ties. Trump is asking Pakistan to "Do More" by further strengthening its ties with India in Afghanistan. The concern for US is CEPC not terrorism. He added that Pakistan has done a lot for US's war on terror and will continue its resolve to eliminate terrorism with resilience, but will not be dictated. “As far as threat of sanctions are concerned has anyone told trump that US flows to Pak are so small as to be nearly irrelevant,” PTI’s Asad Umar said. Trump threatening to go back to an afghan policy of troop build up & pressure on Pakistan, a policy which has failed to deliver in 16 years Blaming Pak will not win the war for the US in Afghanistan nor will embracing Modi! Trump the bully should be given a befitting response, Shireen Mazari said. Einstein would sum up US strategy: 'trying the same thing over & over again & expecting a different result is a sign of stupidity/insanity', Mushahid Hussain tweeted. Former Ambassador to India Abdul Basit said US is either clueless or deliberately complicating matters in Afghanistan. 2/2 INP/AH