US conveyed Pakistan does not need aid: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that Pakistan had conveyed to the US that it did not need its aid.

He said that relations with the US were not as per routine after tirades of Donald Trump.

He also made it clear that Pakistan could no more host the Afghan refugees.

Pakistan wanted to maintain balance in ties with US, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif told Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

"Pakistan is trying to maintain a balance in its relationship with US and the government has made it clear that Pakistan can live without aid by US but will not compromise on national integrity," he said.

The meeting was held here at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq and was attended among others by Senators Farhatullah Babar, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Karim Ahmed Khawaja, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Daud Khan Achakzai, Haji Moin Khan Afridi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Asif, Secretary Foreign Affairs and Secretary Cabinet Division.

Khawaja Asif told the meeting that continuous jibes at Pakistan are all accusations to put responsibility of US failures in Afghanistan on Pakistan. "We have to stand up to those who accuse us of harbouring terrorists," he remarked. The chairperson of the committee along with the members praised the hard and strong stance taken by the minister in response to President Trump's statements against Pakistan. The minister stressed that Pakistan has been repeatedly seeking assistance in repatriation of Afghan refugees and to work on border management with Afghanistan.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed urged the Foreign Office to be more proactive in putting forth Pakistan's narrative in the war against terrorism. Regarding the matter of filling-up of vacant Pakistani chairs in Foreign Universities, the committee was given a detailed briefing on the process by Cabinet Division against 14 vacant seats in foreign universities in 11 different countries. The committee complemented the prompt and impartial procedure developed and carried out by the both Foreign Office and Cabinet Division. It may be noted that the Search and Selection Committee is headed by Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah and has Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Secretary Foreign Affairs, Secretary Cabinet Division, Secretary Establishment Division, HEC chairman and a representative from PM Office as members.