Starting to develop ‘much better’ relations with Pakistan: Trump

Just as the kidnapped US-Canadian family, rescued by Pakistani forces this week after five years of captivity in neighbouring Afghanistan, returns home safely, Donald Trump says that the United States is “starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders".

Pakistan Army rescues Canadian-American family held hostage by Taliban

The US president took to Twitter to thank the Pakistani authorities “for their cooperation on many fronts”.

Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts.

American Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, were kidnapped by the Taliban-allied Haqqani network while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. They had three children while in captivity.

“Today, we join the Boyle family in rejoicing over the long-awaited return to Canada of their loved ones,” said the Canadian government in a statement after their arrival.

President Donald Trump thanks Pakistan for ‘doing more’

The Pakistan Army, on October 12, rescued the couple along with their three young children “through an intelligence-based operation”. An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said the hostages were recovered in Kurram tribal area that borders Nangarhar and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan.

Action on part of the Pakistani Army was immediately hailed by Trump as a ‘positive moment’ in relations between Islamabad and Washington.

“This is a positive moment for our country’s relationship with Pakistan. The Pakistani government’s cooperation is a sign that it is honouring America’s wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region,” Trump said earlier in a statement issued by White House.

“We hope to see this type of cooperation and teamwork in helping secure the release of remaining hostages and in our future joint counter-terrorism operations,” Trump had said.