White House conveys displeasure to Pak envoy for tweeting image with first lady

Image
ANI Washington [US]
Last Updated : Aug 30 2016 | 11:13 AM IST

The White House has conveyed its displeasure to Pakistan ambassador to the U.S. Jalil Abbas Jilani for tweeting an image of him and his wife with the first lady Michelle Obama.

In a strongly-worded letter addressed to Jilani, the White House criticised his actions and accused the ambassador of breaching trust and being undiplomatic in his action, reports the News.

Jilani had in the last week of May this year tweeted the picture with the caption, "It was an absolute delight hosting FLOTUS at Pakistan House today."

Reports suggest that the tweet along with the picture dispensed the impression that he has close ties with America's first family.

Following his tweet, a section of the press also carried out analysis that Michelle Obama and Jilani discussed bilateral relations as well.

Disappointed by the tweet, the White House also reportedly reminded in the letter that the first lady's short stopover at Jilani's residence was personal and extracting any political gain out of that was unprofessional.

The first lady was invited to his residence, the Pakistan House, to participate in his son's graduation party.

His youngest son is said to have attended the same school as President Barack Obama's daughters.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry in Islamabad also took notice of the tweet followed by embarrassment forcing Jilani to remove the image from his twitter feed.

When asked to comment on the incident, Jilani reportedly termed it incorrect.

The relations between Islamabad and Washington have been in the soup for the past few months and this was quite visible after Obama administration declined to sell eight fighter jets to Pakistan on subsidy.

The US had also then carried out a unilateral drone strike killing Afghan Taliban leader Mulla Akhtar Mansour.

Though the two countries were hardly on favourable terms, the tweet portrayed as if the ambassador had saved the day.

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First Published: Aug 30 2016 | 11:13 AM IST

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