Strategy needed to stop Pakistani reliance on US money: Nawaz Sharif

Labelling Coalition Support Fund as 'aid' is not correct, says former premier

Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has said that PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi needs to devise a strategy which makes Pakistan self-sufficient, and independent of the need for US aid.

"There is no need for the United States (US) to refer to the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) as 'aid to Pakistan'," the former premier said while addressing a press conference at Punjab House in Islamabad.

Sharif also called a recent tweet by US President Donald Trump 'disappointing', in which the US President had lashed out at Pakistan for granting 'safe haven' to terrorists the US had been chasing.



"Pakistan has been involved in somebody else's war for over 17 years. The country has suffered the brunt of the damage the world has seen since 9/11," Sharif lamented.

"The US President should not forget that my party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, pledged to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan when it came into power in 2013."



The PML-N chief noted that responsible members of the international community respected the norms of diplomacy when in direct communication with other nation states.

"Pakistan should not be taunted or threatened with the prospect of aid, and labelling the CSF as aid is not correct," Sharif said.