Corps Commanders' Conference reviews evolving geo-strategic environment
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa chaired the Corps Commanders' Conference at GHQ.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – A special Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at the military’s General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday.
Chaired by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the huddle reviewed the evolving geo-strategic environment and internal security situation, DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor reported.
"The forum also discussed input for the National Security Committee meeting scheduled later today," the Army spokesperon said.
Corps Commanders’ Conference held at GHQ. Evolving geo-strategic environment and internal security situation reviewed. Forum also discussed input for NSC meeting scheduled later today. pic.twitter.com/rwNd96L4VT
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) January 2, 2018
MEETING ON NATIONAL SECURITY
The NSC meeting has been called a day after US President Donald Trump used his first tweet of 2018 to criticise Pakistan.
"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 said in the early-morning New Year’s Day tweet.
"They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"
READ: Trump says ‘no more’ aid to Pakistan
The Trump administration told Congress in August it was weighing whether to withhold $255 million in earmarked aid to Islamabad over its failure to crack down more effectively on terror groups in Pakistan.
Last month, Trump hinted that he could cut off the aid.
"We make massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help," he said in unveiling his national security strategy.
And in late December, Vice President Mike Pence told American troops during a visit to Afghanistan, "President Trump has put Pakistan on notice."
PAKISTAN’S RESPONSE
Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif responded angrily to Trump’s tweet, telling a private television in an interview: "The United States should hold its own people accountable for its failures in Afghanistan."
He said all funds from the US had been "properly audited" and that "services (were) rendered."
And Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan tweeted that Pakistan "as anti-terror ally has given free to US: land & air communication, military bases & intel cooperation that decimated Al-Qaeda over last 16yrs, but they have given us nothing but invective & mistrust."
Islamabad has repeatedly denied the accusations of turning a blind eye to militancy, lambasting the United States for ignoring the thousands who have been killed on its soil and the billions spent fighting extremists.
