This is PM Imran’s maiden visit to the US since assuming office in 2018. The trip was originally planned in June but was postponed because of the PM’s prior domestic engagements, including the federal budget.
PM Imran arrives on three-day visit to US
Relations between Pakistan and the US remained strained since Trump took charge of the White House, and given the apparent tensions in relations and deepening trust deficit between the two countries, it was not possible to convince the American establishment for the Trump-Imran summit.
Back in November 2018, Trump sparked off a Twitter spat with the Pakistani prime minister, reiterating the allegations he had leveled in a Fox News interview.
Trump accused Pakistan of sheltering Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda founder who was taken out in a clandestine operation by US special forces in Abbottabad in 2011.
“Of course we should have captured Osama bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just before the attack on the World Trade Center. President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan billions of dollars and they never told us he was living there. Fools,” he said in another tweet.
Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center. President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools!..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2018
The US president also accused Pakistan of “doing nothing” for the United States despite receiving “billions of dollars” in aid. He defended his administration’s move to cancel financial aid to Pakistan.
“We no longer pay Pakistan billions of dollars because they would take our money and do nothing for us. Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another,” the US president wrote on the social networking site.
“They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That’s ending!”
....We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That’s ENDING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2018
Minutes after Trump’s tweets, Prime Minister Imran also took to the microblogging site to respond to the US president’s rant.
The premier wrote, “Trump’s false assertions add insult to the injury Pakistan has suffered in the US war on terror in terms of lives lost and destabilised and economic costs.”
“He [Trump] needs to be informed about historical facts. Pakistan has suffered enough fighting US’s war. Now we will do what is best for our people and our interests,” he added.
Trump’s false assertions add insult to the injury Pak has suffered in US WoT in terms of lives lost & destabilised & economic costs. He needs to be informed abt historical facts. Pak has suffered enough fighting US's war. Now we will do what is best for our people & our interests
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018
PM Imran's US visit likely to thaw relations
This was Imran's fourth tweet for the day addressing Trump's allegations made on Fox News, with the first three being a series of factual statements made by the prime minister.
Record needs to be put straight on Mr Trump's tirade against Pakistan: 1. No Pakistani was involved in 9/11 but Pak decided to participate in US War on Terror. 2. Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over $123 bn was lost to economy. US "aid" was a miniscule $20 bn.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018
3. Our tribal areas were devastated & millions of ppl uprooted from their homes. The war drastically impacted lives of ordinary Pakistanis. 4. Pak continues to provide free lines of ground & air communications(GLOCs/ALOCs).Can Mr Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018
Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops & reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018
Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to hold talks on cementing Pakistan-US relations in a range of areas, at the White House in Washington on Monday.
The talks will mark an effort by the two leaders to reset ties between the two countries.
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