Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday called on ex-president Asif Zardari to "rein in" former ambassador to the United States (US), Hussain Haqqani, accusing the latter of "authoring" President Donald Trump's new South Asia policy.

Asif, in a tweet, said: "President Zardari instead of criticising [the] government, [should] rein in Haqqani his ambassador to US, taking credit of authoring US policy President Trump announced."

Haqqani responded to the tweet soon after, saying Pakistan's foreign minister should "deal with the policy instead of trying to bully an exiled Pakistani on Twitter."

Haqqani, who remained Pakistan's ambassador to the US from 2008-2011, was allegedly disowned by the PPP after he authored an article in The Washington Post claiming his ‘connections’ led US to kill Osama bin Laden.

Asif's tweet comes days after the US administration, signalling a shift in their policy towards Pakistan, threatened to cut off aid to Pakistan for providing 'safe haven' to terrorists.

"We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations," Trump had said earlier this week, warning that vital aid could be cut.

"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 said. "That will have to change and that will change immediately."

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.