NEW YORK: US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said that Pakistan should not be given “even a dollar” as it continues to harbour terrorists who “turn around and kill American soldiers”. Speaking to a magazine, Haley said funds released to the South Asian country should be based on the goodwill displayed by that nation, rather than, funding and expecting goodwill in return. “The one example I'll give you is, look at Pakistan. Giving them over a billion dollars, and they continue to harbour terrorists that turn around and kill our soldiers that's never okay. We shouldn't even give them a dollar until they correct it. Use the billion dollars. That's not a small amount of change,” she said.
Haley said Islamabad should be told that “you have to do these things before we will even start to help you with your military or start to help you on counter-terrorism”. “I don't think you should blindly give it and then expect goodwill. You have to ask for goodwill and then give it when you see good things happen.” Haley's statement came days after US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan parred in a war of words. In September, the Trump administration had suspended a $300 million military aid to Pakistan citing inaction over terrorism. Trump had also sent a letter to Khan seeking Pakistan's cooperation in bringing peace to Afghanistan.
When asked if she does not agree that foreign aid can turn an adversary into an ally, or can make a country more favourable than it would be otherwise, Haley said, “No, I think it absolutely can. I think that you do have to use it as leverage”. “I don't think you should blindly give it and then expect goodwill. You have to ask for goodwill and then give it when you see good things happen,” she said.
