Trump lashes out at Pakistan over terrorist safe havens

US President Donald Trump indicated that single-minded approach would extend to US relations with troubled ally Pakistan, which consecutive US administrations have criticised for links with the Taliban and for harbouring leading militants. “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organisations,” he said, warning that vital aid could be cut.

He made this warning while unveiling new US policy for Af-Pak region on Tuesday.
“We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting,” he said. “That will have to change and that will change immediately.”In advance of the announcement, Vice President Mike Pence called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Trump’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made calls to his Pakistani, Indian and Afghan counterparts.

Much of Trump’s address on turning around America’s longest war sounded familiar, not least on the need for Pakistan to crack down on Taliban fighters seeking sanctuary across Afghanistan’s border.
More surprising was Trump’s call on India and how he linked Afghanistan to totally separate US-Indian trade matters.
Trump said the US appreciates India’s important contributions to Afghan stability. But he lamented that India “makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States.” He said he wants India to provide more economic assistance and development to Afghanistan.