Rehman Malik says Trump misinformed about Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Former Interior Minister and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator Rehman Malik has responded to US President Donald Trump’ statement on Tuesday saying that such statements by US officials can create a wedge between two countries and affect the war against terrorism.

“Donald Trump seems to be highly misinformed as the factual position is that the request for assistance in war against terrorism was made by USA to Pakistan which was accepted by Pakistan as friendly gesture at the cost of our national loss and we are still suffering because of USA initiated war,” he said while responding to Trump’s tweet against Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan hasn’t deceived USA but it is USA which is not fair with Pakistan as no country has done and suffered more than Pakistan in war on terror. “The war on terror has destroyed our peace, infrastructure and economy along with more than 75,000 casualties on both civilians and troops,” he said.

Senator Malik said that US must remember that survival of Pakistan is never dependent on US aid as Pakistan has lost a total of $188 billion due to this war while USA still owes it $155 billion plus the cost of blocking commercial airspace. He added that fair calculation indicates that USA still owes to Pakistan and Pakistan has the right to ask for this amount.

He said that the US assistance to Pakistan is named CSF which was reimbursed to Pakistan for expenses already incurred in joint operations and provision of logistics and compensation for airspace, land and sea services has not been claimed yet by Pakistan.

Senator A. Rehman Malik if Donald Trump continues to bash his friends certainly no country of the world will be trusting US friendship after the way you are mistreating Pakistan.

He said despite our numerous sacrifices being rendered in war against terrorism, Mr. Trump rather to be grateful to Pakistan is bashing it. “I am a witness to it being former interior minister of Pak for five years the way Pakistani forces fought against terrorism, said Rehman Malik.