Pakistan Won’t Be Your ‘Hired Gun’ Anymore: Imran Khan To US

Speaking to The Washington Post, Imran Khan said being America’s “hired gun”, cost Pakistan human lives and dignity.

Imran Khan also said he hopes to resume talks with India, once the elections are over.  

(Photo: AP)

In his first foreign interview as Prime Minister, Imran Khan told The Washington Post that Pakistan will not be a hired gun of the US, given money to fight someone else’s war.

“It not only cost us human lives, devastation of our tribal areas, but it also cost us our dignity,” the Pakistan PM told The Washington Post.

On the relationship between US and Pakistan, Khan agreed that he would want it to warm up.

The interview follows soon after the US asked Pakistan to help facilitate the Afghan peace process. The Pakistan PM said peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest and he would do “everything” to help.

The leader also said that Pakistan doesn’t have sanctuaries for Taliban leaders. US President Donald Trump had remarked in January that Pakistan gives a “safe haven” to the terrorists.

“When I came into power, I got a complete briefing from the security forces. They said that we have time and time again asked the Americans, "Can you tell us where the sanctuaries are, and we will go after them?" There are no sanctuaries in Pakistan,” Khan said.

He said he never understood the allegations by American officials of Pakistan harbouring leaders of Taliban.

“Pakistan had nothing to do with 9/11. Al-Qaida was in Afghanistan. No Pakistani was involved. And yet Pakistan was asked to participate in the US war. There were a lot of people in Pakistan who opposed it, including me.”

Pak PM Imran Khan To Washington Post

The Pakistani leader added that by becoming the front-line state for the US in the war on terror, Pakistan “went through hell.”

“Over 80,000 people died in the war, and estimates are that over $150 billion was lost in the economy. Investors wouldn't come, nor would sports teams. Pakistan was known as the most dangerous place in the world,” he said.

Imran Khan also said that when he spoke about the lack of military solution in Afghanistan, he was called “Taliban-Khan.”

“If you did not agree with the US policy, you were [thought to be] anti-American. Now I'm happy that everyone realizes there is only a political solution,” he said.

When asked about his stance regarding the killing of Osama Bin Laden, Khan said “most Pakistanis felt deeply humiliated that we were not trusted, implying that we were complicit in it.”

On Pakistan’s relationship with India, the premier said that resolving the case of 26/11 attacks is in his interest as it was an act of terrorism. “Let's hope that after the election is over, we can again resume talks with India,” he added.