US President Donald Trump slams Pakistan; China backs Islamabad

NEW DELHI: In what would be music to India’s ears, US president Donald Trump warned Pakistan on Monday that Washington will no longer tolerate Pakistan offering "safe havens" to terrorists. "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations," Trump declared, outlining a new US security strategy in South Asia.

"Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our efforts in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbour criminals and terrorists." Trump suggested that military and other aid to Washington's nuclear-armed ally is at stake if it does not clamp down on extremism. "We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting," he asserted. "That will have to change and that will change immediately. It is time for Pakistan to dedicate to civilization and order and peace."

Trump vowed to change the country's approach in dealing with Pakistan, promising to crack down on Pakistan's harbouring of terrorist groups. Asserting that "the next pillar of our new strategy is a change in our approach to Pakistan," he said, "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond."

But hours after US warning Pakistan’s all-weather ally China came to its rescue. “(On) President Trump’s remarks on Pakistan, I should say that Pakistanis at the frontline of fighting terrorism, has made sacrifices in fighting terrorism, making an important contribution to upholding peace and stability,” chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.