(Eds: Updates with more quotes of Trump, background)By Lalit K JhaWashington, Oct 14 (PTI) Pakistan took "tremendousadvantage" of the US over the years, but the two countries arenow "starting to have a real" relationship, President DonaldTrump has said, a day after Pakistani forces rescued anAmerican-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror group.
American citizen Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husbandJoshua Boyle along with their three children were rescued fromthe Haqqanis on Thursday after an operation by Pakistaniforces based on intelligence from the US authorities.
The couple were kidnapped in 2012 in Afghanistan while ona backpacking trip. Their three children were born while thepair was in captivity.
Trump had slammed Pakistan for its continued support toterrorist groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if itcontinues to do so while announcing his Afghan and South Asiapolicy in August.
The president thanked Pakistani leaders for cooperatingwith the US on many fronts.
"Starting to develop a much better relationship withPakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for theircooperation on many fronts," Trump said in a tweet yesterday.
"Yesterday, things happened with Pakistan.
"I have openly said Pakistan took tremendous advantage ofour country for many years, but we're starting to have a realrelationship with Pakistan, and they're to respect us as anation again, and so are other nations," Trump said.
"They are starting to respect the United States ofAmerica again," he said and thanked the leaders of Pakistanfor "what they've been doing".
He said that "in this administration, we will call evilby its name".
Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu said: "On this I agree"with Trump.
"Pakistan is a critical ally in fighting againstterrorists," he said in a tweet.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis is scheduled to visitPakistan soon, followed by a visit of Secretary of State RexTillerson.
The Haqqani network has carried out a number ofkidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan.
The group is also blamed for several deadly attacksagainst Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.
PTI LKJ CPS AKJCPS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.