Indicted Pakistani national has no link to Trump’s assassination attempt: White House

WASHINGTON: The White House has rejected reports in the US press that the arrested Pakistani national Asif Merchant was involved in a plot to assassinate former president Donald Trump.

A Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, with alleged ties to Iran was charged in the United States in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a US politician or government officials, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue during a briefing, emphasizing that the DOJ’s ongoing investigation has found no evidence linking the individual named in the indictment to the attempted assassination.

 “This is a DOJ matter, and any further specifics should be addressed by them,” she stated.

Jean-Pierre reiterated the administration’s awareness of threats against former U.S. politicians, notably those emanating from Iran. “We have been tracking Iranian threats against former politicians, driven by Iran’s desire for revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani,” she said.

FO responds to indictment of Pakistani national in the US

Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020, an event that has significantly strained U.S.-Iran relations.

The White House considers these threats a matter of national and homeland security of the highest priority. “We have repeatedly met at the highest levels of our government to develop and implement a comprehensive response,” Jean-Pierre noted, highlighting efforts to disrupt individuals involved in these threats, enhance protective measures for potential targets, and engage with foreign partners.

WHO IS ASIF MERCHANT?

Jean-Pierre told reporters that Asif Merchant was born in Karachi. Besides having a family in Pakistan, he also has a wife and kids in Iran.

The spokesperson said Asif had made multiple visit to Iran, Iraq and Syria.

REACTION FROM PAKISTANI EMBASSY IN US

Officials at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, which currently does not have an ambassador, said they were reviewing the matter and were not yet in a position to comment.