Trump mocks PM Modi for funding library in Afghanistan, asks 'who would use it in war-torn country'

While addressing the first cabinet meeting of the year, the US President referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funding a library in Afghanistan, wondering who would use it in that country.

(FILES) (Photo by Olivier Douliery / AFP)

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned India’s efforts in its decades-old role in the Afghanistan peace process and also took a dig at India-funded library in the war-torn country. He also alleged that India is taking advantage of the US’ presence in the region and said that he wanted the regional countries India, Pakistan and Russia to fight against Taliban there While addressing the first cabinet meeting of the year, the US President also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funding a library in Afghanistan, wondering who would use it in that country. In response to a question raised by reporters during the cabinet meet, Trump reportedly asked why US despite being 6,000 miles away is in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and the neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan and Russia are cornering themselves. "Why is not Russia there (in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban)? Why isn't India there? Why isn't Pakistan there? Why are we (US) there? We are 6,000 miles away. But I don't mind. We want to help our people. We want to help other nations," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. He cited India’s efforts towards peace and development in Afghanistan but said it was not enough. He alleged that the countries that have sent just “100 or 200 soldiers” in the war-ravaged countries claim to be involved in the peace-process. Trump criticised PM Modi for citing the library that India built in Afghanistan. He said the expense in a library is what US spend in five hours. “I could give you an example where I get along very well with India and Prime Minister Modi. But he is constantly telling me, he built a library in Afghanistan. Library! That's like five hours of what we spend (in Afghanistan)," Trump was quoted as saying by PTI.  "And he (Modi) tells me. He is very smart. We are supposed to say, oh thank you for the library. Don't know who's using it (the library) in Afghanistan. But it's one of those things. I don't like being taken advantage of," he said. He appeared critical of Russia’s limited role I the country. He said that Russia used to be Soviet Union. “Afghanistan made it Russia, because they went bankrupt fighting in Afghanistan” he said.