Pak won’t fight others’ war in future: Imran Khan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has categorically said that Pakistan would neither fight anyone’s war in future nor be treated like a hired gun because the country had paid huge cost for this. In an interview with Turkish International News Channel, TRT World, the Prime Minister said from Afghan jihad onward, Pakistan paid enormous price in the form of 80,000 casualties, four million Afghan refugees, militancy and kilashnikov culture. He said Pakistan is still recovering from that chaos. The Prime Minister said instead of previous mantra of doing more, Pakistan would now be an ally in peace. He said Pakistan has been playing its role to facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan. On Pak-Turkish ties, the Prime Minister said even before the creation of Pakistan, the Muslims of the sub-continent had special liking for Turkey for being the only independent Muslim state that time. He added that even the Muslims of this region had donated money to support the Turkish freedom struggle. He said during his visit to the brotherly country, the two sides decided to form a working group to ponder over the enhancement of bilateral trade during next five to ten years. Last week, PM Khan visited Turkey on a two-day official visit on the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The premier held several important meetings during his stay in Turkey. During the visit, Pakistan and Turkey reiterated their resolve to continue extending strong mutual support to one another on all issues of core national interest. Responding to a query, he said China has been extremely helpful to Pakistan as it has been developing special economic zones and Gwadar Port that would boost the national economy. On Pak-India ties, the Prime Minister said far before breaking ground for Kartarpur Corridor, he had offered the Indian government to hold dialogue as two nuclear nations could not even afford cold war, what to talk of the nuclear one. But, he said, Pakistan was rebuffed by India just to bag anti-Pakistan votes as the elections are coming up there. “India was offered to take one step towards and we shall take two,” Khan noted, saying, “But India rejected Pakistan’s offer for talks several times.” Khan has warned that it would be a suicide for the two nuclear-armed neighbours to opt for the resolution of bilateral issues through a war. “Two nuclear-capable states can’t even afford a cold war, let alone a nuclear war” he said. “Two nuclear armed countries should not even think of a war; not even a Cold War because it could worsen any time. The only way is bilateral talks. Two nuclear armed countries at war is like a suicide,” he was quoted as saying. He shared that India had often rejected Pakistan’s offer to hold dialogues to resolve the issues amicably. “India was offered to take one step towards and we shall take two. But India rejected Pakistan’s offer for talks several times,” Khan said. Imran Khan also lamented the unabated killings of innocent Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said the international community including the United Nations acknowledge that there is an indigenous freedom struggle in Occupied Kashmir and its solution lies only in dialogue, not violence. He maintained that the solution to Kashmir issue lies in talks between the two countries. He, however, noted that even the United Nations admitted to the indigenous Kashmiri struggle for independence. Imran Khan has said despite New Delhi’s many attempts, India will never be able to suppress the freedom movement of the people of Occupied Kashmir. Sharing the difficulties PTI government faced after coming into power, Prime Minister   said that Pakistan faced the biggest issue of its current account deficit, but the country had stabilised over the past four months. Khan said he was off from work for only five days during these months due to the problems faced by the country. The Prime Minister said government is striving to stabilize the national economy by increasing foreign reserves and exports. The prime minister said Pakistan is facing multiple crises. However, the government will effectively solve all these challenges in due time. He claimed the country’s economy had improved in the last four months of his government’s tenure.