Islamabad: The Pakistani government is not a Taliban spokesman and Islamabad cannot be responsible for the actions of the rebel group in Afghanistan after withdrawal of soldiers from the US and its allies, said Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In his comment to the Afghan media representatives aired on Thursday, Mr Khan also said that Pakistan would have a good relationship with anyone chosen by Afghanistan.
“What the Taliban did or did nothing for us. We were not responsible, both of our Taliban spokesman,” Khan said as quoted by the Fajar newspaper.
Mr Khan’s statement was a continuation of the repetitive warning of Pakistan that it would not accept responsibility if blamed for setbacks in the Afghan peace process.
In agreement with the Taliban, the US and the NATO allies agreed to withdraw all troops in return for commitment by militants that they would prevent extremist groups operate in the area they control. US President Joe Biden has announced that American forces will leave the country on August 31.
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan with Brute Force from 1996 to 2001 when the US invasion dropped their government.
The US stormed Afghanistan in October 2001 after the Taliban refused to submit the leader of Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden, who was behind the terror attack on September 11, 2001 in America.
Mr. Khan again distanced Islamabad from developments in Kabul, said: “What we want is peace in Afghanistan.”
He said that the Afghans have the choice to make: to pursue a US-backed military solution or to pursue political settlement where there is an inclusive government. “(The last) is the only solution,” he said.
“There are three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, almost all of them are Pashtun and most will have sympathy with the Taliban. How Pakistanes should examine who goes there to fight when we have around 30,000 people crossing to Afghanistan every day. How Pakistan Will check it? “Khan asked.
Mr Khan said it was impossible for Pakistan to filter refugee camps to find out who was the pro-Taliban and who did not, added that until now there was no physical border between the two countries.
“The Durand line is imaginary,” he said, referring to the 2,640 kilometers of borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has completed 90 percent of the border fence.
“We try our best, but it is not possible to hold Pakistan responsible when you have more than three million refugees here,” he said.
He said that it was not Pakistani’s interest to undergo a civil war in Afghanistan. “What interest can be possessed by Pakistan in supporting someone to take over Afghanistan?” He asked.
What is clear is that no one can take over Afghanistan, he said, adding that in the 90s Pakistan has pursued the ” strategic depth “policy because it was alert to the influence of India in Afghanistan.
“At that time we tried to have a favorite. Now, and especially in my government, we believe that Afghanistan can never be controlled from the outside,” he said.
So Pakistan will have a good relationship with anyone chosen by Afghans, he said. “We have no favorites now.”
Commenting on the abduction and torture of the Afghan Ambassador’s duties in Islamabad, Mr Khan said that the authorities had mapped the right path taken by the victim. He said that taxi drivers were tracked and interrogated.
“Unfortunately, what the Ambassador’s duta said and what the camera showed did not increase. He said he was placed in a taxi, taken and beaten. But there was a picture of the taxi and he sat there and he sat there and he sat there and him Well, “Khan said.
He said that the Probe team from Afghanistan would hand over all information.
He said that America should talk to the Taliban from the position of strength. “When there are 150,000 NATO soldiers, it’s time to talk to [Taliban]. How can they expect the Taliban to compromise when the exit date has been given and several thousand troops remain?”
Mr. Khan also questioned what we would have operated from Pakistan when it could not achieve his goal in Afghanistan for the past 20 years.
