Pakistan summons US ambassador over Trump tweet

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Pakistan has summoned the US ambassador and lodged a protest against US President Donald Trump's tweet, which accused Pakistani leaders of "lies & deceit".

US Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the foreign ministry and asked for clarification of Trump's comments, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump earlier tweeted that "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."

Trump further wrote that "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"

Screenshot of Trump's tweet

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told the US envoy that Pakistan has taken action against all militant groups without any discrimination and regretted that her country's sacrifices are being ignored.

Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja M. Asif said on Twitter that "We will respond to President Trump's tweet shortly inshallah…Will let the world know the truth…difference between facts & fiction..."

Screenshot of Khawaja M. Asif's tweet

The Trump administration told Congress in August it was weighing whether to withhold 255 million US dollars in earmarked aid to Islamabad over its failure to crack down more effectively on terror groups in Pakistan.

Last month, Trump hinted that he could cut off the aid.

"We make massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help," he said in unveiling his national security strategy.