ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on announced that Pakistan will seal its borders with Afghanistan if Taliban try to take over Afghanistan through the military.
In an exclusive interview with The New York Times on Friday, PM Imran Khan said that Pakistan wants a political solution to Afghanistan before the US withdrawal and Pakistan will recognize the government in Kabul by people’s vote. Pakistan will do everything to promote a political settlement of the long-running conflict in Afghanistan, except the use of military action.
The Prime Minister categorically stated that Pakistan will only recognize a government which is chosen by the people of Afghanistan, whichever government they choose. To a question about if Taliban try to take over Afghanistan through the military Imran Khan said “Then we will seal the border, because now we can, because we have fenced our border, … (but) Pakistan does not want to get into, number one, conflict. Secondly, we do not want another influx of refugees.”
Talking about Pak-India relations, he said that Narendra Modi s Hindutva ideology is an obstacle in our way, adding that he spoke of improving relations with India as soon as he took oath. Asked about the prospects of relationship with India, he said he had tried with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve relations with New Delhi, but did not get anywhere. He said I think that it is a peculiar ideology of the Hindu nationalist group RSS, which Narendra Modi belongs to, which just came up against a brick wall.
To a question about if status quo remains on Kashmir, Imran Khan said, “I think it’s a disaster for India because it will just mean that this conflict festers on and on. And so as long as it festers, it’s going to stop there being any relationship — normal relationship — between Pakistan and India.”
The prime minister said his main objective for coming to power is to alleviate poverty in Pakistan and the best way would be if India and Pakistan had a normal, civilized trading relationship which would benefit both the countries.
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