President Trump is sick of Pakistan’s games, and he pulled no punches Monday letting the country’s leaders know exactly how he feels.
“The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools,” Trump said on Twitter. “They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”
Trump’s comments have created a firestorm in the controversial country as Pakistani leaders scramble to figure out what the ramifications of losing US support could mean for them.
Trump administration officials say a payment of nearly $300 million for Pakistan scheduled to be sent won’t be coming.
“The Trump administration has decided to withhold millions in military aid to Pakistan as the president accuses the Muslim-majority nation of harboring terrorists and telling “lies” to the United States.
“The United States does not plan to spend the $255 million in [Fiscal Year] 2016 Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan at this time,” a National Security Council official told Fox News on Monday.
The official added, “The president has made clear that the United States expects Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorists and militants on its soil, and that Pakistan’s actions in support of the South Asia Strategy will ultimately determine the trajectory of our relationship, including future security assistance.”
The Trump administration will continue to “review Pakistan’s level of cooperation,” the official said.”