US President Donald Trump has mocked India’s contribution at a press conference after a cabinet meeting yesterday. As per reports, the US President was discussing the decision of his government to spend resources overseas.
During the presser, Trump said that he gets along with PM Modi, but he keeps reminding him that India has funded a library in Afghanistan. Trump said, ” you know what that is, that is like five hours of what we spent. And we are supposed to say, oh thank you, I don’t know who is using it.”
As per reports, in the press conference, Trump was ‘rambling’ about the dollars and efforts the USA has spent in other countries. He alleged that other nations are not doing enough in Afghanistan and are taking advantage of the USA. However, his comments on India’s efforts in Afghanistan have met with disapproving reactions from all quarters.
Unbelievable! Trump is sniffing at support from India, but India is THE FIFTH LARGEST BILATERAL DONOR TO AFGHANISTAN. India’s support to Afghanistan has included: Libraries, the new parliament building, sections of the Ring Road, other infra projects, AND $$. https://t.co/xGGr2y8mFF
— ?????? ????? (@AyresAlyssa) January 2, 2019
BJP National Secretary Ram Madhav also responded to the statement saying that India has contributed significantly to Afghanistan for infrastructure development and stated that India is ‘building lives’ in the war trodden country.
May be Trump should know that while he is decrying every other help in Af, India has been building not only libraries, but roads, dams, schools n even parliament building. We are building lives, for which d Afghan people thank us, no matter what others do or don’t. https://t.co/VUOIm1nuQd
— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) January 3, 2019
Trump mocks the Prime Minister of India over India’s decision to NOT send troops to Afghanistan.
We the people of India, take offence to this mockery of a Head of State/Govt called Donald Trump.
This is unpardonable.PMO&MEA, Ball is in your Durbar
— LCA Tejas (@Leopard212) January 3, 2019
India largest regional doner and 5th largest globally for Afghan reconstruction. + 3 billion in aid, +1,000 scholarships, +16,000 Afghans studying in India through aid programs, many Indian cos. & persons in rebuilding programs. And Trump sees only a library? Shame. https://t.co/engla2Xq5y
— Meera Ravi (@MeeraRavi) January 3, 2019
As per reports, Indian officials have rejected the comment and stated that apart from a range of infrastructure projects, India is also carrying out community development programmes in Afghanistan and attempting to make Afghan citizens empowered and economically viable.
It is notable here that India has committed an investment of over 3 billion USD in Afghanistan over the years. This includes roads and dams, school buildings, scholarships and many socio-cultural initiatives. PM Modi had inaugurated Afghanistan’s new parliament building in 2015 financed by India.
Trump also went ahead to state that Russia used to be the Soviet Union, Afghanistan made it Russia because they went bankrupt fighting in Afghanistan. As per reports, Trump, in a broader sense, was hinting at India’s military presence in Afghanistan. he stated, “Why isn’t Russia there? Why isn’t India there? Why isn’t Pakistan there?” Trump added, “Why are we there and we’re 6,000 miles away?”
As per reports, Indian officials have responded on the issues stating that India does not send armed troops abroad except for UN-mandated peacekeeping missions.
It is notable here that it is not the first time the United States or Trump had tried to mock or coerce India into doing their bidding. USA had pressurised India against buying the S-400 missile system from Russia which India ignored and went ahead to seal the deal. Before that Trump had also mocked PM Modi over India’s stringent tariff norms for American Harley Davidson motorcycles.
