Baloch political activists have welcomed United States President Donald Trump's tweet in which he slammed Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists. In what was Trump’s first tweet of 2018, he had made a scathing attacking on Pakistan and accused it of ‘lies and deceit.’
Baloch activist Abdul Nawaz Bugti welcomed the tweet and called it a ‘positive development.’
The Baloch people see the statement of President Donald Trump to stop aid to Pakistan as a very positive development and we hope it is not just a pressure-building measure against Pakistan but a true realisation of the fact that all the aid that US has given Pakistan is being used to support and export terrorism.Abdul Nawaz Bugti, Baloch activist, to ANI
‘Disengage With Pakistani State’
Meanwhile, Naela Quadri Baloch of the World Baloch Women Forum (WBWF) urged the United States to disengage with the Pakistani establishment.
US must disengage with the Pakistani state and designate current and formers members of Pakistani intelligence agencies involved in supporting terror as global terrorists. It should stop giving funds to Pakistan, impose a travel ban on its citizens, but not Balochs, Sindhis and Gilgits. We are not their citizens.Naela Quadri Baloch, member, World Baloch Women Forum, to ANI
Naela also urged to limit the international reach of Pakistani banks and isolate Pakistan from the international financial system.
Pak PM Calls Meeting of National Security Committee
In response to Trump’s tweet, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC). Pakistan is expected to issue a response to Trump's tweet following the NSC meeting.
The meeting was originally scheduled to take place on 3 January, along with a meeting of the federal Cabinet. The top civilian and military leadership attended the meeting, Geo News reported.
Pakistan also summoned US Ambassador David Hale to register its protest after Trump's comments.
Trump's remarks came days after reports emerged that the US is considering withholding US $225 million in aid to Pakistan, reflecting its dissatisfaction with Islamabad's reluctance in the war against terrorism.
Unveiling his new South Asia policy in August 2017, Trump had warned of tougher measures against Pakistan if it failed to cooperate with the US in the fight against terror.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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