US statement of Donald Trump's conversation with Nawaz Sharif counters Pakistan's version
‘Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people,’ the US president-elect had told the prime minister, according to the statement issued by Pak.
US President-elect Donald Trump’s team has issued a statement about his telephonic conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which counters Islamabad’s version of the interaction, PTI reported. Pakistan had released a version of the conversation in which Trump had called Sharif a “terrific guy” and said he is “doing some amazing work”. However, in the US account of the conversation, Trump seems to have said nothing of the sort.
“President-elect Trump and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif spoke today and 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,” Trump’s transition team said.
The US reportedly felt the need to issue a statement because the Pakistani one “seemed to have committed him [Trump] to more than he meant”, Hindustan Times said quoting officials who were not identified. According to the statement by Pakistan, Trump told Sharif, “Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people.” When Sharif invited Trump to visit Pakistan, the latter in his response said, “would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people”, Pakistan’s statement had said.
The US President-elect has spoken to at least 40 foreign leaders since he won the presidential polls on November 9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, has had a conversation with the businessman-turned-president.