A day after the us indicated that it might review its ties with Pakistan over the developments in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said his country was treated “like a hired gun” by Americans.
In an interview with CNN, one among his first since the Taliban takeover, Khan batted for engagement with the fighters to make sure stability and peace in Afghanistan. He revealed he has not spoken with US President Joe Biden since the Taliban takeover, despite the 2 countries being close allies for years.
“I would imagine he’s very busy, but our relationship with the US isn’t just hooked in to a call , it must be a multi-dimensional relationship,” Khan said within the interview.
Reacting to criticism levelled against Pakistan by several US lawmakers, Khan said, “We were alleged to make them (the US) win the war in Afghanistan, which we never could.”
Khan’s comments follow US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s congressional hearing on Monday, during which he told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that US will consider its relationship with Pakistan within the coming weeks. The Biden-administration has been under attack over its botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, with several senators expressing concern over the role played by Islamabad.
Blinken told lawmakers that Pakistan features a “multiplicity of interests” in Afghanistan, including “some that are in conflict” with the US.
“It (Pakistan) is one that’s involved (in) hedging its bets constantly about the longer term of Afghanistan, it’s one that’s involved (in) harbouring members of the Taliban…,” Binken said, consistent with a Reuters report. “It is one that’s also involved in several points (of) cooperation with us on counterterrorism,” he added.
Denying allegations that Pakistan is harbouring Taliban members, Khan told CNN: “The area of Pakistan along the border of Afghanistan had the heaviest surveillance by the US drones… surely they might have known if there have been any safe havens?”
Khan said his country had suffered for its cooperation with the US.
“Just because we sided with the US, we became an ally of the US after 9/11 and therefore the war in Afghanistan. The suffering this country went through, at one point there have been 50 militant groups attacking our government… On top of it, they need to also know there have been 480 drone attacks by the US in Pakistan,” he said, adding that it’s the “only time a rustic has been attacked by its ally.”
He also defended Pakistan’s stance against action within the neighbouring country.
The question is, was Pakistan during a position to require action against the Afghan Taliban when it had been already being attacked from inside, from the Pakistani Taliban who were attacking the state of Pakistan?” Khan said.
“The Afghan Taliban weren’t attacking us. I wish if i used to be in government. i might have told the US that we aren’t getting to take them on militarily because first, we’ve to serve the people. My responsibility would are to the people of my country,” Khan told CNN.