Imran Khan interview with Jonathan Swan was broadcast last night where the Prime Minister categorically said that Pakistan would “not” allow any bases and use of its territory, including airspace, to the US for any sort of military action against Afghanistan.
“Absolutely not. There is no way we are going to allow any bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not,” the prime minister told Axios on HBO in an interview.
Imran Khan Interview
In an excerpt of the interview, to be aired on Sunday, on the Axios website, the interviewer Jonathan Swan had questioned, “Would you allow the American government to have CIA here to conduct cross-border counterterrorism missions against Al-Qaeda, ISIS or the Taliban?”
Pakistan has suffered the most
He said that the people of his country have suffered the most due to the war against terrorism.
“Over 70,000 Pakistanis embraced martyrdom due to US-Afghan war. We have given sacrifices more than anybody else in this war.” He noted that his country is currently hosting three million Afghan refugees.
Pakistani PM said, “We only want peace and don’t want to be part of any confrontation.”
“Before leaving Afghanistan, the US must find a political solution,” he said.
The comments from the premier came amid the commencement of the withdrawal of foreign troops, which will be completed by September, while the peace process is facing hurdles due to disputes among the Afghan leaders.
In a cabinet briefing, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain also ruled out the possibility of any airbase of the United States in the country saying all such facilities were under our own use.
He said it was the PTI-led government that had ended the ‘drone surveillance’ facility given to the US in the past.
“All the airbases are under the use of Pakistan. Right now, no negotiations in this regard are underway as Pakistan cannot give any airbase [to any country],” he said.
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Axios on HBO is a documentary-news programme that combines the reporting of Axios journalists with the expertise of HBO filmmakers to explore the collision of tech, media, business, and politics.
