Imran Khan said joining the ‘war on terror’ was a ‘self-inflicted wound’ for Pakistan (File)
Islamabad:
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan today regretted the country’s decision to join the US’ 20-year ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan, calling it a “self-inflicted wound” and a decision made by the US government. given for money, not the public good.
Imran Khan, who has long criticized Pakistan’s involvement in a war that lasted about two decades, stated that he was close to the decision-makers in 2001 when the then-military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, decided to be part of the ‘war on terror’.
“And so, I am well aware of the considerations behind this decision. Unfortunately, the Pakistani people are not something to be considered,” Khan said while addressing foreign ministry officials in Islamabad. .
“Instead, the considerations remain the same as they were in the 1980s, when we were involved in the Afghan jihad,” he said, referring to the Soviet-Afghan war, then dubbed “jihad” “.
“We ourselves are responsible … when we let [others] take advantage of us, sacrifice our country’s reputation for aid, and carry out a foreign policy against the public interest [and was devised] for the money.”
Calling the ‘war on terror’ a “self-inflicted wound” for Pakistan, Imran Khan said, “We cannot blame anyone else for this outcome (of the war).”
Khan has previously cited that Pakistan has suffered more than 80,000 deaths and over $100 billion in economic losses as a result of 20 years of war.
Speaking of the current situation in Afghanistan, Mr Khan said it was a “great atrocity” that a man-made crisis was being created “when it became known that the expansion of Afghanistan’s accounts and liquidity would avert the crisis.” He said that resolving the situation in Afghanistan is important for Pakistan as a neighbor as the country could be hit hard by the Afghanistan crisis.
Pakistan will continue to support Afghanistan during these difficult times, he said, adding that regardless of liking or disliking the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the world should focus on the difficulties that 40 million their people are facing.
