Trump offers to help Pakistan, calls PM
Sharif a 'terrific guy': Islamabad
Send a link to a friend
[December 01, 2016]
By Drazen Jorgic
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - U.S. president-elect
Donald Trump offered to help solve Pakistan's problems and praised Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif as a "terrific guy" in the first call between the
two men, the Pakistani leader's office said.
Historical allies in the region, Islamabad and Washington have seen
relations sour in recent years over U.S. accusations that Pakistan
shelters Islamist militants, a charge denied by the South Asian nation.
Sharif's office said late on Wednesday the Pakistani premier called
Trump to congratulate him on his victory and issued a read out of the
call. Trump's team confirmed the two men talked and issued a brief
statement.
"President Trump said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif you have a very good
reputation. You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is
visible in every way," said the statement issued by Sharif's office.
"I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to
address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an
honor and I will personally do it."
The prime minister's office did not elaborate on the kind of problems
Trump offered to solve. The statement also did not clarify why exactly
Trump was impressed with Sharif.
Pakistan's sputtering economy has rebounded since Sharif was elected in
2013 and security has vastly improved amid greater efforts by the army
to tackle militants such as the Pakistani Taliban.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Dec/01/images/ads/current/mcentire_sda_FLYERS_2016.png)
But security remains a problem as Islamist groups continue to stage mass
attacks and Islamic State radicals have sought to gain a foothold inside
Pakistan, claiming responsibility for several high-profile attacks. The
economy is also facing acute challenges, including energy shortages.
Trump's office said the two leaders had a "productive conversation about
how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working
relationship in the future".
"President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a
lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif,"
the statement added.
STRAINED TIES
Detailing the conversation, Sharif's office added that Trump told the
Pakistani premier to feel free to call him any time before he assumes
office on January 20.
"As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person
I have known for long," the statement added, paraphrasing Trump's
comments.
Sharif's office often releases read outs of his conversations with
foreign heads of state but they are seldom so full of praise for the
Pakistani premier, especially during calls with Western leaders.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/120116pics/news_w41.jpg)
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks during a joint news
conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 12, 2015. REUTERS/Omar
Sobhani/File photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_051513.png)
Sharif invited Trump to visit Pakistan, according to the statement,
and the incoming U.S. leader agreed.
"Mr Trump said that he would love to come to a fantastic country,
fantastic place of fantastic people. Please convey to the Pakistani
people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are
exceptional people," said the statement.
Few details are known about Trump's planned policy for South Asia
but the warm words between the leaders suggests ties could be reset
under Trump's presidency and will ease concerns in Islamabad that
Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric in the run up to the poll will not lead
to unfriendly policies towards Pakistan.
At one point Trump proposed banning Muslims from the entering the
United States, remarks that alarmed the predominantly Muslim nation
of 190 million people.
Islamabad has also been concerned about warmer ties between the
United States and India, fearful that Washington is pivoting towards
New Delhi at a time of heightened tensions between the nuclear armed
neighbors who have fought three wars since their independence from
British rule in 1947.
Trump also has business ties in India, which has stoked concerns in
Pakistan that under his presidency the United States may accelerate
its shift towards New Delhi.
Pakistan continues to receive aid as well as military funding and
training from the United States, but the U.S. Congress has recently
held back some help due to frustrations about Pakistan's
unwillingness to act against elements of the Afghan Taliban.
Relations hit new lows in May when a U.S. drone killed Mullah Akhtar
Mansour, the leader of the Afghan Taliban movement, on Pakistani
territory.
(Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Dec/01/images/ads/current/graue_sda_2016.png)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Dec/01/images/ads/current/ldn_medical_directory_small2.png) |