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Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the United States "really messed it up in Afghanistan" and the only good solution to the country's situation is through a political settlement that is “inclusive” and involves all factions, including the Taliban.
The premier’s remarks came on Wednesday, during an interview with Judy Woodruff on PBS NewHour.
He emphasised that there was “no military solution” to the problem, and by trying military solutions “the US had really messed it up in Afghanistan".
“People like me who kept saying there was no military solution were called anti-American… When they finally decided there was no military solution, unfortunately, the bargaining powers of America or the NATO forces had gone”, he said.
When asked if the rise of the Taliban is good for Afghanistan, PM Imran stated that the Taliban must be a part of the government in an effort to peacefully resolve the current situation in Afghanistan.
“The worst situation in Afghanistan would be a civil war and a protracted civil war, and from Pakistan’s point of view, that would be the worst-case scenario”, he said, adding that Pakistan would then face a refugee problem due to continuing conflict.
“Already Pakistan is hosting three million Afghan refugees and what we fear is that a protracted civil war would mean more refugees. Our economic situation is not such that we can have another influx.”
The premier expressed concern that a new Afghan “civil war will flow into Pakistan because the Taliban are ethnic Pashtuns, and there are more Pashtuns on our side of the border than in Afghanistan. If this goes on, the Pashtuns from our side will be drawn into it”.
When asked about alleged Taliban safe havens in Pakistan, the prime minister replied: “Where are these safe havens? There are three million refugees in Pakistan who are the same ethnic group as the Taliban. The Taliban are not in some military outfit, they are normal civilians. How is Pakistan supposed to hunt them down [if they are in refugee camps]?”
US-Pak relations
PM Imran found comments of Pakistan’s alleged support to the Taliban “extremely unfair”, and said Pakistan had “nothing to do” with 9/11.
“When Pakistan decided to join the US’ war on terror, this country was devastated by it. 70,000 Pakistanis died in that war – which we had nothing to do with. We had over a $150 billion dollars lost to the economy”.
The prime minister further said allegations about 10,000 militants crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan is “absolute nonsense” and that there is no “evidence” of such a claim.
He reiterated that he does not want CIA bases in Pakistan, as the US’ war on terror had already “bankrupted” Pakistan.
“We do not have the capacity to have terrorism, to have fighting within our border. When we were in the height of that war on terror, which Pakistan had joined, there were suicide bombings taking place all over the country. Businesses collapsed, tourism collapsed”, he said.
According to the premier, Pakistan would become a “target” if it allowed US bases and reiterated that Pakistan “wants to be a partner in peace”, not conflict.
When asked during the interview what relationship Islamabad wanted with Washington at this point, Imran said the previous relationship was transactional and Pakistan was "like a hired gun".
“Pakistan was like a hired gun. The US said we paid you, we gave you aid and that’s why you were fighting this war on terror. Pakistan, on the other hand, felt that it was a country which had no need to be part of this war”. He answered, requoting the death of many and the economic losses.
He stated that aid was “minuscule” compared to the “money we lost in the economy”, and that Islamabad was still “blamed for the failures in Afghanistan”.
Imran added that Pakistan wants to help and has helped by “getting the Taliban to talk to the US”, however, the country cannot afford a civil war in Afghanistan.
“We have just recovered from a desperate economic situation, and we do not want to go through it again”.
He emphasised again that the only possible solution in Afghanistan was a political settlement with the Taliban.
tribune.com.pk
'US really messed up in Afghanistan': PM Imran urges inclusive political settlement
PM Imran reiterates there is no military solution to the Afghan issuePrime Minister Imran Khan has said that the United States "really messed it up in Afghanistan" and the only good solution to the country's situation is through a political settlement that is “inclusive” and involves all factions, including the Taliban.
The premier’s remarks came on Wednesday, during an interview with Judy Woodruff on PBS NewHour.
He emphasised that there was “no military solution” to the problem, and by trying military solutions “the US had really messed it up in Afghanistan".
“People like me who kept saying there was no military solution were called anti-American… When they finally decided there was no military solution, unfortunately, the bargaining powers of America or the NATO forces had gone”, he said.
When asked if the rise of the Taliban is good for Afghanistan, PM Imran stated that the Taliban must be a part of the government in an effort to peacefully resolve the current situation in Afghanistan.
“The worst situation in Afghanistan would be a civil war and a protracted civil war, and from Pakistan’s point of view, that would be the worst-case scenario”, he said, adding that Pakistan would then face a refugee problem due to continuing conflict.
“Already Pakistan is hosting three million Afghan refugees and what we fear is that a protracted civil war would mean more refugees. Our economic situation is not such that we can have another influx.”
The premier expressed concern that a new Afghan “civil war will flow into Pakistan because the Taliban are ethnic Pashtuns, and there are more Pashtuns on our side of the border than in Afghanistan. If this goes on, the Pashtuns from our side will be drawn into it”.
When asked about alleged Taliban safe havens in Pakistan, the prime minister replied: “Where are these safe havens? There are three million refugees in Pakistan who are the same ethnic group as the Taliban. The Taliban are not in some military outfit, they are normal civilians. How is Pakistan supposed to hunt them down [if they are in refugee camps]?”
US-Pak relations
PM Imran found comments of Pakistan’s alleged support to the Taliban “extremely unfair”, and said Pakistan had “nothing to do” with 9/11.
“When Pakistan decided to join the US’ war on terror, this country was devastated by it. 70,000 Pakistanis died in that war – which we had nothing to do with. We had over a $150 billion dollars lost to the economy”.
The prime minister further said allegations about 10,000 militants crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan is “absolute nonsense” and that there is no “evidence” of such a claim.
He reiterated that he does not want CIA bases in Pakistan, as the US’ war on terror had already “bankrupted” Pakistan.
“We do not have the capacity to have terrorism, to have fighting within our border. When we were in the height of that war on terror, which Pakistan had joined, there were suicide bombings taking place all over the country. Businesses collapsed, tourism collapsed”, he said.
According to the premier, Pakistan would become a “target” if it allowed US bases and reiterated that Pakistan “wants to be a partner in peace”, not conflict.
When asked during the interview what relationship Islamabad wanted with Washington at this point, Imran said the previous relationship was transactional and Pakistan was "like a hired gun".
“Pakistan was like a hired gun. The US said we paid you, we gave you aid and that’s why you were fighting this war on terror. Pakistan, on the other hand, felt that it was a country which had no need to be part of this war”. He answered, requoting the death of many and the economic losses.
He stated that aid was “minuscule” compared to the “money we lost in the economy”, and that Islamabad was still “blamed for the failures in Afghanistan”.
Imran added that Pakistan wants to help and has helped by “getting the Taliban to talk to the US”, however, the country cannot afford a civil war in Afghanistan.
“We have just recovered from a desperate economic situation, and we do not want to go through it again”.
He emphasised again that the only possible solution in Afghanistan was a political settlement with the Taliban.
'US really messed it up in Afghanistan': PM Imran | The Express Tribune
PM Imran reiterates there is no military solution to Afghan issue
