Islamabad is in contact with US authorities to get more details about a Pakistani man allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate former US President Donald Trump. The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated that they are awaiting further information before making any official comments.
The US Justice Department has charged Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani man, with trying to recruit people to carry out the assassination in response to the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Merchant, who reportedly spent time in Iran before traveling to the US, is accused of murder for hire and is currently detained in New York.
Attorney General Merrick Garland mentioned that the Justice Department has been actively working to counter Iran’s efforts to retaliate against US officials for Soleimani’s death. The FBI believes that former President Trump and other US officials were the targets of this plot, though court documents do not specify the intended victims.
The investigation is ongoing, and US authorities have not provided additional comments. Trump’s campaign has also not responded to requests for comments.