Whole nation on one page against new US policy: Senate

ISLAMABAD: Members of the Senate on Thursday strongly denounced the statement made by US President Donald Trump about Pakistan and said the whole nation was on one page against the new US policy.

They were speaking on a motion regarding the US president’s new strategy for South Asia and Afghanistan and remarks about Pakistan.

They said Pakistan was a strong and valiant nation and Pakistanis knew well how to defend their motherland.  Senators said a national narrative against terrorism should be formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders and the parliament.

They said foreign policy should be reviewed viewing the national interests.

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Some members said that the US ambassador should be summoned to Foreign Office and a demarche be issued on the US statement.

During his presidential address to the US nation on August 22, Donald Trump slammed Pakistan for “sheltering terrorists,” despite being a key US ally receiving billions of dollars.

“Pakistan has also sheltered the same organizations that try every single day to kill our people. 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 harboring of militants and terrorists who target US service-members and officials.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee has outrightly rejected the specific allegations and insinuation made by President Trump against Pakistan.

The meeting of National Security Committee was held in Islamabad on Thursday with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair to discuss the Trump Administration’s South Asia Strategy.