PM Imran Khan has categorically denied the possibility of any military action against Afghan Taliban by Pakistan.
Expressing his views in an exclusive virtual interview with The New York Times Yara Bayoumy and Jyoti Thottam, PM Imran Khan categorically said that Pakistan ‘won’t use military action against the Taliban’.
The interview which in which PM Imran Khan mulled over various issues, primarily revolved around Afghan Peace Process, US withdrawal and future prospects.
Responding to a question regarding Pakistan’s response of Taliban take over Kabul and overthrow Ashraf Ghani led government by force, PM Imran Khan reiterated that Pakistan will do anything and everything other than using military force against Afghan Taliban.
All sections of our society have decided that Pakistan will take no military action, said the prime minister.
A ‘Civilized’ Relationship With United States
Addressing the somewhat strained Pak-US relations, PM Imran Khan stressed that Pakistan desires for a ‘civilized’ relationship with United States as the latter withdraws from Afghanistan.
When asked to elaborate what this ‘civilized’ relationship might look like, the prime minister said that Pakistan would like to improve our trade and economic relations with the US.
The premier highlighted that Pak-US relations over the years are ‘lopsided’ as the United States believed that just because they were giving aid to Pakistan, they felt that Pakistan then had to do US’s bidding.
“70,000 Pakistanis died, and over $150 billion were lost to the economy because there were suicide bombings and bombs going on all over the country. That’s where the problem began. The US kept expecting more from Pakistan. And unfortunately, Pakistani governments tried to deliver what they were not capable of,” said PM Imran Khan.
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What we want in the future is a relationship based on trust and common objectives, he added.
Further pondering over Pak-US ties, PM Imran Khan noted that Pakistan is strategically placed between the world’s two biggest markets i.e. China and India and then there is energy corridor including Central Asia and Iran so if US improves its relations with China and Iran, Pakistan will be able to benefit economically from the US’s progressive approach in the region.
Will Seal The Border, Pakistan Does Not Want Any More Refugees
Addressing the issue of increasing violence in neighboring Afghanistan, PM Imran Khan stressed that ‘Pakistan doesn’t want a civil war, a bloody civil war in Afghanistan’ and that if Taliban succeed in taking over Kabul by force, Pakistan will seal its border with Afghanistan as the country has already fenced 90% of the Durand Line.
Pakistan does not want to get into conflict. Secondly, we do not want another influx of refugees, said the prime minister.
When questioned about possible recognition of Taliban’s government in Afghanistan, Imran Khan said that Pakistan will only recognize a government which is chosen by the people of Afghanistan…‘whichever government they choose’.
Hopeful For Improved Relations With India
Expressing his views on Pak-Indo ties, which have significantly deteriorated in recent years, especially after India abrogated Article 370 of its constitution and revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomous status; PM Imran Khan said that he’s optimistic and hopes that that relations between Pakistan and India will improve.
The prime minister accentuated that he had approached his Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi to work together towards poverty alleviation via improved bilateral relations between the two countries.
So we tried. Didn’t get anywhere. I think that it is a peculiar ideology of the (Hindu nationalist group) R.S.S., which Narendra Modi belongs to, which just came up against a brick wall, said PM Imran Khan.
Had there been another Indian leadership, I think we would have had a good relationship with them. And yes, we would have resolved all our differences through dialogue.
The premier also criticized the US-Indo alliance against China arguing that the world would really benefit if the two economic US and China really got along and traded with each other.
If India takes on this role, I think it would be detrimental for India because India’s trade with China is going to be beneficial for both India and China, he noted.
