Judy Woodruff interviewed Imran Khan for PBS News hour about Pakistan’s relation with the United States and the current situation of Afghanistan. Judy asked Imran Khan about his assessment of Afghanistan’s current situation after the US exclusion.
Imran Khan answered that first the US tried to look for a military solution in Afghanistan and people like him kept saying that there was no military solution and we were called anti-American and Taliban Khan. He said he didn’t know about the objective of the US, whether it was democracy, nation-building, or liberating women, but the way they went about it was never going to be the solution. The US should’ve decided to go for a political solution when there was no military solution. When NATO troops were present in Afghanistan, then their political solution could’ve been effective, but when they excluded troops and a limited number of troops remained there and an exit date was given, the the Taliban considered it their victory and it was very difficult to urge them for negotiations.
Judy further asked that now the Taliban are on the rise in Afghanistan and is that a good outcome for Afghanistan? Imran Khan said that the only good outcome for Afghanistan is a political settlement. The worst situation is civil war and protracted civil war which is harmful to Pakistan due to refugee problems, and the main reason is that this war will flow into Pakistan due to the large Pashtun community in Pakistan.
She asked about the explanation that there are many pieces of evidence that Pakistan has helped the Afghan Taliban. He replied that it was extremely unfair. How is it possible? Moreover, because Pakistan joined the US in the war on terror and lost thousands of people and a billion-dollar loss to the economy
Judy also asked that Pakistan is currently helping the Afghan Taliban as Pakistan sent 10000 fighters in Afghanistan. PM Khan replied that it is nonsense and they should provide evidence if they claim it. She asked what relationship Pakistan wants with the US as he rejected to provide bases in Pakistan. Does it mean you will not cooperate with the US to fight against terrorism?
He said we can’t give more damage to ourselves for others and we can be a partner in peace with the US but not in war. In the end, he said that Pakistan would try a political settlement in Afghanistan, and no matter what the circumstances would be, Pakistan will not join any other war.