Trump rips Pakistan in first tweet of 2018

President Trump blasted Pakistan in his first tweet of 2018, saying its leaders have given the U.S. “nothing but lies & deceit.”

“The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools,” he said Monday morning.

“They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” he added.

The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018

{mosads}The New York Times reported late last week that the Trump administration might withhold $225 million in aid over frustration with Pakistan’s handling of terror networks.

Administration officials told the newspaper that a final decision is expected in the next few weeks.

Pakistan’s defense ministry fired back at Trump in a tweet later Monday, saying it has received nothing but “invective & mistrust” from the U.S.

Pak as anti-terror ally has given free to US: land & air communication, military bases & intel cooperation that decimated Al-Qaeda over last 16yrs, but they have given us nothing but invective & mistrust. They overlook cross-border safe havens of terrorists who murder Pakistanis.

— Pak Minister Defence (@PakMnstrDefence) January 1, 2018

U.S. officials have long accused Pakistan of being slow to stamp out terrorist groups within its borders.

In August, Trump unveiled a new U.S. strategy for the war in Afghanistan aimed at defeating the Taliban and the Haqqani network, an affiliated group that operates in Pakistan.

Trump said then that Pakistan “gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror.” He also vowed the administration would be tougher on the country.

In July, the Pentagon withheld $50 million in funding for Pakistan after Defense Secretary James Mattis told Congress he would not certify that the country has done enough to fight the Haqqani network.

— This report was updated on Jan. 2 at 5:36 a.m.