US backs Pakistan’s ‘right to defend’ against Taliban attacks: Trump
ISLAMABAD: As hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue along the border, United States President Donald Trump has said that Washington will not intervene in a possible conflict between Islamabad and Kabul.
Trump said he could step in but stressed that he has “very good relations” with Pakistan.
He further said Pakistan has a great prime minister and a great military leader, adding that they are two people I have a lot of respect for.
The US president, who has repeatedly boasted about ending several wars across the globe, said on Friday that he would not step into the latest ongoing conflict when asked whether the United States would intervene.
Trump said he could step in but stressed that he has “very good relations” with Pakistan. He talked highly of the Pakistani leadership.
“Well, I would (intervene), but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well. Very, very well. You have a great Prime Minister, you have a great general there, you have a great leader, two of the people that I really respect a lot,” he told reporters.
He further said he believes Pakistan is moving forward very strongly, signalling that Washington does not intend to interfere.
The US said it supported Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from the Taliban regime after Islamabad said earlier that the neighbouring countries were in “open war.”
“The United States supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group,” a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The State Department spokesperson said Washington was aware of the escalation in tensions and “outbreak of fighting between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban,” adding the US was “saddened by the loss of life.”
“The Taliban have consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments,” the State Department said, adding that “terrorist groups use Afghanistan as a launching pad for their heinous attacks”.
Meanwhile, the United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker has spoken with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch on the phone.
In her statement on X, Allison Hooker said Washington continues to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks. Staff Report
