Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks against his country showed that he was “talking in the language of India”.
Briefing the Parliamentary Committee on National Security about tension between Pakistan and the U.S. following Mr. Trump’s remarks, Mr. Asif said the U.S. is making Islamabad a scapegoat for its failure in Afghanistan.
Mr. Trump had accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the U.S. but “lies and deceit” in return for $33 billion aid.
Sources privy to the discussion in the meeting said Mr. Asif told lawmakers, “Trump was speaking in the language of India.”
“The statements from the U.S. leaders are contrary to the facts,” Mr. Asif said.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who heads the body, told the media after the meeting that there should be “balanced response” to the statements from the US.
“The country’s dignity should be maintained, while engaging with the US,” he said.
He said the committee has decided to reconvene next week for a briefing by security agencies.
The closed-door meeting came at the heels of a high-level National Security Committee meet and the cabinet meeting earlier this week.
Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir was also present in the meeting.
Mr. Dastagir said when U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis visited Pakistan, they presented their stance in accordance with diplomatic norms and the talks were not threatening and insulting, Geo TV reported.
“[But] this was present in Trump’s tweet and before that when U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made the ‘put Pakistan on notice’ statement from Afghanistan,” the defence minister said, referring to the threatening tone of the U.S. leaders.
“We need to have a holistic review of the entire situation. We are conducting a complete analysis and coolly formulating our response,” he said, adding that there should not be any doubts when it comes to the defence of Pakistan.
“The question is will America create a situation which will harm Pakistan...We are ready for this but still want to engage the U.S.,” he shared.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and NSA Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua also briefed the participants.
