U.S. statements on aid to Pakistan to fight terrorism contradict facts – Envoy

Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah said the statements of the U.S. regarding his country’s multi-million assistance to counter terrorism are not reliable and contradict facts.

On Jan. 1, President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of providing a “safe haven to the terrorists” in spite of his country’s multi-billion assistance to Pakistan.

On Jan. 4, the U.S. Department of State stated that Pakistan was not being aggressive enough in attacking the Afghan Taliban terrorist group or the Haqqani Network (affiliated with al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorist groups)
and announced the suspension of security assistance to Islamabad.

Khalilullah told Sputnik in an interview: “the people and the Government of Pakistan were therefore deeply
disappointed and hurt by the offensive allegations made in the recent provocative statements by the U. S.
leadership, which were completely incomprehensible as they contradicted facts manifestly.

“They also ignored the enormous sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan while fighting terrorism.”
Khalilullah stressed that Islamabad’s fight against terrorism had costed lives of 70,000 citizens, including
6,500 military and law enforcement personnel, while the country’s economy lost more than 120 billion dollars.

“The claims of billions of dollars in aid to Pakistan are also misleading.

“About half of the total amount is reimbursements to Pakistan since 2001 rather than any financial aid or assistance.

“The reimbursements only account for part of the cost of ground facilities and air corridors of Pakistan used by the U.S. for its operations in Afghanistan,” Khalilullah noted.