Imran Khan: We're not your 'hired gun' anymore, Imran Khan tells US
- by Cecilia Wilkerson
- in World News
- — Dec 8, 2018
Pakistan on Friday made a decision to respond to US President Donald Trump's letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Officially allies in fighting terrorism, Pakistan and the United States have a complicated relationship, bound by Washington's dependence on Pakistan to supply its troops in Afghanistan but plagued by accusations Islamabad is playing a double game.
"I do believe that any solution in Afghanistan is going to require the assistance of Pakistan". However, the present government has taken a firm stance that the country will watch its own interests and not become a part of the US-led war in the neighbouring country.
"Let's hope that after the election is over, we can again resume talks with India", he said. The US has satellites and drones. "We will still need the assistance of the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in terms of training and equipment until Afghan forces stands on its own feet", said Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed, a spokesman for Ministry of Defense.
Speaking during the cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, he said Pakistan has always been playing an active role to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and it is matter of great satisfaction that the world powers particularly the United States has recognized Islamabad's contribution to this effect.
He further asserted that "if there are a few hundred, maybe 2,000 to 3,000 Taliban who move into Pakistan, they could easily move into these Afghan refugee camps".
Gen. Ghafoor again rejected allegations his country is allowing the Taliban to plan attacks inside Afghanistan.He said Pakistani security forces have eliminated all terrorist sanctuaries on their side and a military-led massive construction effort is now underway to fence off the almost 2,600 kilometer border with Afghanistan. They also said that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is working on the Pakistani response.
On the USA allegations that Pakistan harbours Taliban, the premier recalled that "in the 1980s, we collaborated with the U.S.in the Soviet jihad there. We do not want to have conditions imposed on us which would cause more unemployment and inflation", he explained.
"The ruling party [in India] has an anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan approach", he pointed out.
It believes that a Pakistani crackdown on the militants could be pivotal in deciding the outcome of the war. Now, after releasing three Taliban veterans, and having received Khalilzad at the highest level indicates Pakistani leaders are again positioning themselves for a "bigger" role in the Afghan reconciliation.
He maintained that he wanted the case of the Mumbai attacks to be resolved, adding that he has "asked our government to find out the status of the case".
Shireen Mazari, the country's human rights minister, said on Twitter the 18 groups were responsible for spreading disinformation.
"I had gone on television and warned everyone that we will stand by the Supreme Court verdict", he recalled.
It is in Pakistan's long-term interest to have a government in Afghanistan that is stable, and that that they can do business with, he said.
