WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Imran Khan asserted that he seeks a dignified relationship with the United States, much as friends and not in the manner it has been before.
“I hate the idea that we would be asking for funds not from US but from anyone as aid has been one of the greatest curses for my country,” said the Pakistani premier as he addressed the audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on Tuesday.
The Pakistani premier expressed that he received tons of suggestions ahead of his meeting with President Trump and was pleasantly surprised at the way he was hosted by the US President during his maiden meeting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV3S2PNxnV8
“We were blown over,” Khan said, adding that we have decided that we will now have a good relationship with the U.S.
“When I came here in 2009, I told everyone, Democratic & Republican leaders, that there is no military solution in Afghanistan. This time, everyone gets that. That’s why we’ll have a good relationship with the U.S., everyone is on the same page,” the Pakistani premier said.
The Pakistani premier started his speech by recounting his efforts both in the field of cricket as well as philanthropy, recalling the days he was busy building the cancer hospital.
He also dished in on his ascension in politics, crediting the social media for the success.
“We won because of social media… Had there been no social media, we would not have won against the established parties,” Imran Khan said.
Afterwards, he turned towards global affairs, especially the ongoing Afghan war and Pakistan’s role in bringing peace to the region.
“It’s not going to be easy, to get a peaceful settlement with the Taliban as it has no centralized command,” the premier shared.
There is no military solution in Afghanistan, affirmed the Pakistani Prime Minister and said he will meet the Taliban and tell them to talk to the Afghan govt.
“I believe the election in Afghanistan should be inclusive and Taliban must be included,” the Pakistani premier highlighted.
‘We have decided to disarm the armed groups,’ said the Pakistani leader and added that it was in the interest of Pakistan.
“Police is not capable of disarming militant groups in Pakistan. They have experience of fighting in wars. It’s the army that is helping us disarm these groups,” he shared.
The Pakistani premier rejected the perception that the country’s press was facing censorship.
Pakistani media is free’ier than the British media. It is not just free but sometimes out of control, he claimed and added that he was the biggest beneficiary of free media and there was no question of clamping down on media.
The Pakistani leader also addressed the issue of soaring tension between Iran and global powers and warned that people don’t understand the gravity of the situation of a war with Iran as it would be catastrophic for Pakistan and the world.
The Pakistani premier highlighted that the martial law imposed by Pervez Musharraf was a watershed moment for the country, rejecting the idea of a coup in future.
“I believe that the democratic evolution of the country has reached the point that we will continue advancing democracy, not go back to bad democracy or military leadership,” Pakistan’s prime minister observed.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also dished in on domestic politics, taking aim at the opposition party, in a veiled reference to Pakistan Muslim league Nawaz.
The opposition is blackmailing the judge who convicted Nawaz Sharif, through an old video of him, this happens in Italian Mafias only and not in any democracy, Imran Khan shared.
In his final message, the Pakistani prime minister expressed that he desires relationship with US on equal footings.
“Aid has been the biggest curses for us. It creates a dependency syndrome. I want a dignified relationship with U.S.,” Imran Khan said.
