Washington: United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funding a library in Afghanistan, suggesting that a library was of no use.
Trump brought up India’s aid during a press appearance at a Cabinet meeting as he defended his push for the United States to invest less overseas.
While stating that he got along with Prime Minister Modi, Trump said the Indian leader was “constantly telling me he built a library in Afghanistan.”
“You know what that is? That’s like five hours of what we spend, and we are supposed to say, ‘Oh, thank you for the library.’ I don’t know who is using it in Afghanistan,” the US President said.
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The Trump administration last month had ordered the withdrawal of around 7,000 troops from Afghanistan in the near future.
The Afghan authorities have been requesting the US to not take such a step as it would hamper its operations against the Taliban and ISIS-like elements.
Against the backdrop of the US’ decision to cut down its army presence in Afghanistan, Afghan National Security Advisor (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib is expected to visit India later this week to discuss security ties between New Delhi and Kabul.
India has been contributing heavily for Afghanistan nation-building effort and has provided security and military training to a large number of its citizens in both India and Afghanistan.
Recently, a batch of Afghan women also completed their training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.