The administration of US President Donald Trump is “not giving up” on ties with Pakistan despite repeatedly criticizing Islamabad’s anti-terror efforts, says the top US military officer.
Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday that he was committed to the US-Pakistan relationship, which has been strained after Washington’s many attempts to pile up pressure on Islamabad to step up its efforts against militant groups.
“Do we agree on everything right now? No we don’t. But are we committed to a more effective relationship with Pakistan? We are. And I’m not giving up on that,” said Dunford.
Trump has threatened to cut off foreign aid to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harboring violent extremists.
In his first tweet of 2018, the Republican president took a jab at his predecessors, saying Washington had “foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years.”
“And…