Imran Khan questions NATO military capabilities to combat terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Making a response to US President Donald Trump’s accusations, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday asked whether “a couple of thousand or so Haqqanis in Pakistan” are supposed to be the sole reason of “the most well-equipped” NATO force’s failure in Afghanistan.

Taking to twitter, Imran Khan hit out at US President Donald Trump, terming him “ignorant and ungrateful” for holding Pakistan responsible after US failed in implementing its policies in Afghanistan.

The PTI chief said, he had been opposing Pakistan becoming an ally of US in its war against terrorism from day first. “Now, after suffering 70k dead, over $100 bn loss to economy, when we had nothing to do with 9/11, constant “do more” US taunts & after nation has been humiliated by Trump, GoP saying the same,” he said in a tweet.

In another tweet he said: “Lesson to be learnt by us is never to be used by others for short term paltry financial benefits ever again,” he continued, adding, “Our society became radicalised and polarised as we helped CIA create jihadi groups; then, a decade later, we tried to eliminate them as terrorists on US orders.”

Earlier on Jan 1, Trump accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists on its soil.

“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,” Trump had said. “They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” he then tweeted.

The tweet drew a fiery reaction from Pakistan.

A day later, on Tuesday, a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The civil-military officials reiterated that the country would remained undeterred in its resolve to play a constructive role towards an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, besides establishing peace in the country.