The policies of US President Barack Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton led to the rise of the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group in the Middle East region, according to Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

In a statement on Sunday night, Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, blamed Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for the “disastrous decisions” that led to the death of Captain Humayun Khan in Iraq.

On Thursday night, Captain Khan’s father, Khizr Khan, addressed the Democratic National Convention, denouncing  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as unpatriotic and selfish over his statements against immigrants and Muslims.

On Sunday, Trump tried to belittle Khan and his wife Ghazala, saying that the slain soldier’s father had delivered the entire speech because his mother was not “allowed” to speak, drawing condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats.



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Indiana Governor Mike Pence speaks as Donald Trump looks on, at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina on July 26, 2016. (AFP photo)[/caption]

But hours later, Pence said that both he and Trump believe Khan “is an American hero and his family, like all Gold Star families, should be cherished by every American.”

“Captain Khan gave his life to defend our country in the global war on terror. Due to the disastrous decisions of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, a once stable Middle East has now been overrun by ISIS. This must not stand,” Pence said, using another acronym for the terrorist group.

“By suspending immigration from countries that have been compromised by terrorism, rebuilding our military, defeating ISIS at its source and projecting strength on the global stage, we will reduce the likelihood that other American families will face the enduring heartbreak of the Khan family,” he added.

Earlier, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both described Khan as a hero.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Harry slammed Ryan and McConnell and accused them of being “spineless” over their refusal to revoke their endorsements of Trump.



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Khizr Khan, the father of slain Muslim US Captain Humayun Khan, speaks on the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 28, 2016. His wife Ghazala Khan is standing next to him. (AFP photo)[/caption]

Daesh terrorists, many of whom were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, still control parts of Iraq and Syria. They have been engaged in crimes against humanity in areas under their control. They have been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities, including Shia and Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and Christians.

By Press TV