in an interview with CNNKhan, one in every of his first because the Taliban takeover, batted for engagement with militias to make sure stability and peace in Afghanistan. He revealed that he has not spoken to US President Joe Biden because the Taliban takeover, regardless of the 2 international locations being shut allies for years.
“I think she is very busy, but our relationship with the US is not dependent on just one phone call, but should be a multifaceted relationship,” Khan mentioned within the interview.
Responding to criticism in opposition to Pakistan by a number of US lawmakers, Khan mentioned, “We wanted to prepare them (US) to win the war in Afghanistan, which we could never do.”
“We (Pakistan) were like hired guns,” he mentioned.
Khan’s remarks got here after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s congressional listening to on Monday, wherein he advised the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the US would think about its relationship with Pakistan within the coming weeks. Several senators have criticized the Biden-administration over its failed withdrawal from Afghanistan, with a number of senators expressing concern over the position performed by Islamabad.
Blinken advised lawmakers that Pakistan has “majority interests” in Afghanistan, together with “some who are in conflict” with the US.
“It (Pakistan) is the one who is constantly hedging its bets about the future of Afghanistan, it is the one that is involved in harboring members of the Taliban…,” Bincan mentioned, in response to a Reuters report good. “It is he who is also involved in various points of cooperation with us against terrorism,” he mentioned.
Denying allegations that Pakistan is harboring Taliban members, Khan mentioned CNN: “The area of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan was most closely monitored by US drones … Surely they would know if there was a safe haven?”
Khan mentioned his nation has suffered for cooperation with the US.
“Just as a result of we supported America, we grew to become America’s allies after 9/11 and the warfare in Afghanistan. The ache this nation has gone by way of, there have been as soon as 50 terrorist teams attacking our authorities… On high of that, they need to additionally know that there have been 480 drone strikes by the US in Pakistan,” he said, adding that ” is simply “when a country has been attacked by its ally.”
He additionally defended Pakistan’s stand in opposition to army motion within the neighboring nation.
https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/0ygP4jm9c9SdqUM3C6DycM
“The question is, was Pakistan in a position to take military action against the Afghan Taliban when it was already under attack from within, from the Pakistani Taliban who were attacking the state of Pakistan?” Khan mentioned.
“The Afghan Taliban were not attacking us. I wish I was in government. I would have told America that we are not going to take them militarily because first we have to serve the people. My responsibility would have been towards the people of my country,” Khan mentioned CNN.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
