PM summons cabinet, NSC meetings after Trump tweet

FILE photo. ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has summoned meetings of the federal cabinet and the National Security Committee (NSC) to deliberate over Monday's statement by US President Donald Trump, sources told Geo News. The prime minister has summoned a meeting of the federal cabinet on Tuesday, sources said, which will hold a detailed review of the US administration's South Asia policy including Monday's statement by President Trump. The cabinet will also ponder over national security and other affairs of the state. 'No more': Trump lambasts Pakistan, threatens to cut US aid Trump accuses Pakistan of giving nothing but lies and deceit and providing safe haven to terrorists Trump earlier tweeted that the United States had foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years. The US president accused Pakistan of giving nothing but lies and deceit, thinking US leaders to be fools. "They give safe havens to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" The NSC meeting, summoned on Wednesday, would be attended by chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, the heads of the armed forces, the director generals of the Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Operations, sources said. It would also have key federal ministers in presence, it has been learnt. 'Dictation unacceptable' Trump's tweet followed strong reaction from Islamabad, with Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif saying that the US President's 'no more' holds no importance. "We have already told the US that we will not do more, so Trump?s ?no more? does not hold any importance," Asif said. Speaking later on 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath', Asif said that Pakistan does not want aid, whether the United States blocks it or not. "Trump can ask his administration as to why were funds given to Pakistan." The minister reassured that his government would safeguard the interests of Pakistan and whatever decisions it made, would be in line with the country's interests. Trump?s ?no more? holds no importance: Khawaja Asif 'Already told US we will not do more, so Trump?s ?no more? does not hold any importance,' foreign minister says "We are not meant for safeguarding interests of any other state; our priority is Pakistan's betterment," he said. "If our interests differ with them, we will not become their allies," he said. "This sort of dictation is not acceptable at all," Asif said, in response to Monday's tweet by President Trump. Pakistan also summoned US Ambassador David Hale to its Foreign Office and recorded protest over Trump statement. ?Time for Afghanistan and US to do more? The statement by the US president came days after the Pakistani military officials said that Pakistan has done enough and it was time for Afghanistan and the United States to do more. Major General Asif Ghafoor, the spokesman for the Pakistani military, stated last week that no organised infrastructure of a terrorist organisation exists in Pakistan. His statement was in reference to the unfounded talk by the US and Afghanistan on the presence of terrorist bases in Pakistan. ?We have been saying that Pakistan has fought twice an imposed and imported war inside Pakistan. We have sacrificed a lot. We have paid a huge price both in blood and treasure. We have done enough and we cannot do any more for anyone. Whatever we are doing and shall, will only be done for Pakistan,? Ghafoor told a news conference on Dec 28. The spokesman clarified that the Coalition Support Fund, received from the US, is reimbursement of money spent for operations in support of the coalition for regional peace. "Had we not supported, al-Qaeda would not have been defeated," the ISPR chief stated.