Iran Deplores New US Policy on Pakistan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced a wide-ranging new approach that US President Donald Trump has laid out towards South Asia and Pakistan, urging Washington not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other countries.
“What the US is today condemning the other countries for is the result of years of that country’s (US) wrong and inappropriate policies in the region, particularly in Afghanistan,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Thursday.
His comment came after Trump laid out a tougher approach to US policy towards Pakistan which he accused of giving "safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror."
In an address on Monday evening, Trump said, "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organizations… Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists."
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian spokesperson lashed out at the US government for its “opportunistic strategies, unilateral policies and wrong interference” in the region that have only escalated chaos and tensions and have resulted in the spread of terrorism and extremism.
Recommending the US to stop interfering in the internal affairs of the regional countries, Qassemi added, “The regional states have the necessary capacity for mutual cooperate in the fight against terrorism and in restoring stability and security to the region, and there is no need for the US destabilizing and terrorism-fostering strategies.”
Following Trump’s announcement of the new policy in South Asia, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held a high-level meeting of the country's national security committee, rejecting US allegations and terming the policy an attempt "to scapegoat Pakistan."
