by Jamil Bhatti
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- All walks of life in Pakistan, including political and military leadership, civil society, analysts and public gave a strong response to the U.S. President Donald Trump's new policy about South Asia and Afghanistan, in which he blamed Pakistan for harboring terrorist groups.
In his first formal address as commander-in-chief outlining a new U.S. security strategy in South Asia, 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."
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned a session of National Assembly (the lower house) which is to be held on Tuesday in order to give a unanimous befitting response to the allegations from Trump.
Ayaz Sadiq, speaker and custodian of the house, has asked all parliamentarians to make sure their attendance in the session, saying "We shall not allow U.S. to threaten Pakistan and favor India. America has forced us to rethink our policies by not acknowledging Pakistan's sacrifices in the war on terror."
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, talking to international media on Monday, stressed the need for a political settlement in Afghanistan, saying that like previous U.S. plans Trump's new strategy for America's longest-running war in that country (Afghanistan) will also fail.
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