Pakistani PM: We have not supported the Taliban.
Rejecting rumors of his country’s support for the Taliban in the recent conflict in Afghanistan, the Pakistani prime minister said: “We are committed only to peaceful cooperation.
In an interview with PBS NEWS, Imran Khan reviewed recent developments in Afghanistan and said: “Sending 10,000 fighters to Afghanistan from Pakistan to support the Taliban in the recent conflict is rumored and this news is completely baseless and without evidence.”
Contrary to rumors, Pakistan is hosting more than 3 million refugees from all walks of life in Afghanistan.
It is very unfortunate that despite many efforts by Islamabad to facilitate the peace process, they still blame Pakistan for what is happening in Afghanistan. It is quite clear that the current situation in Afghanistan is the result of two decades of conflict and war in this country.
“Political reconciliation is the only solution to the Afghan problem because the United States has failed to find a military solution to the crisis for 20 years,” he said. Unlike the United States, which has always preferred a military solution to Afghanistan, many Pakistani leaders over the past two decades have repeatedly stressed the need for a political solution to Afghanistan, which is why we remain committed to peace cooperation, facilitating US-Taliban negotiations.
He added: “Now that about 150,000 foreign troops have left Afghanistan, the Taliban consider themselves the victors of the long war in Afghanistan and, unlike in the past, are reluctant to negotiate.”
The Prime Minister of Pakistan stated: “Any kind of unrest and chaos in Afghanistan directly affects Pakistan, given that the national economy has recently revived after many efforts, we do not want to repeat the consequences of the Afghan civil war, which we have experienced in the past.
Imran Khan stressed: “Pakistan is not able to receive more Afghan refugees, so it will close its 1,500-kilometer border with Afghanistan at a high cost and will continue its diplomatic efforts for the peace process.”
