National Security Committee meeting schedule changed
The meeting has been summoned after US President Donald Trump's threatening tweet.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – In a revised schedule, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has decided to chair meeting of the National Security Committee today. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
According to sources, the cabinet will meet after the National Security Committee’s meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair to review in detail the security situation of the country and the region.
The meeting will be attended by foreign minister, interior minister, minister for defence, Services chiefs and senior civil and military officers.
Sources told that the federal cabinet will endorse decisions taken during the NSC meeting.
TRUMP’S TWEET
The meeting has been called a day after President of the United States, Donald Trump used his first tweet of 2018 to tear into Islamabad.
"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!"
Pakistan hit back swiftly, saying it had done much for the United States, helping it to "decimate" Al-Qaeda, while getting only "invective & mistrust" in return.
US AMBASSADOR SUMMONED
Pakistan also summoned the United States (US) Ambassador David Hale on Monday to explain president Donald Trump’s criticism and call to end aid to Pakistan.
A US embassy spokesman confirmed Hale met officials, but added: "We don’t have any comment on the substance of the meeting."
KHAWAJA ASIF’S RESPONSE
Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan is fully committed to safeguard its territory.
While responding to US President’s tweet, the minister said that the United States is shifting its frustration towards Pakistan after its failure in Afghanistan. He said that the United States should review its policy and sought peaceful solution to the Afghan issue.
Khawja Asif said military solution could not be a viable solution to the situation in Afghanistan.
To a question, Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan’s foreign policy is heading towards its national interest.
