New Delhi:
In a veiled attack on United States President Donald Trump, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday promised to never fight a "war on terror" inside the country's territory, claiming that those "imposed" wars on Pakistan earlier claimed lots of innocent lives while several billion dollars was lost to economy. Khan's remark came days after Trump reiterated that Pakistan doesn't "do a damn thing" for the United States despite billions of dollars in US aid for the troubled country. The United States president further threatened that the USD 1.3 billion in aid to Pakistan will remain suspended until the country acts against militant safe heavens inside its territory.
“We have fought an imposed war inside our country as our war at a very heavy cost of sweat and blood and lose to our socio-economic fibre…We shall not fight any such war again inside Pakistan,” Imran Khan told during his visit to Miranshah in Waziristan district earlier in the day.
Khan was accompanied by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.
Lauding the "achievements" of the Pakistani Army, security forces and intelligence agencies in their war against terrorism, the PTI leader further said, "No other country or their armed forces have done what Pakistan and its armed forces have done in the war against terrorism".
PM in NWD. “No other country or armed forces have done what Pak & its armed forces have done in war against terrorism. ”We have fought an imposed war inside our country at a very heavy cost of sweat, blood & eco. We shall not fight any such war again inside Pakistan”, PM.(1/3). pic.twitter.com/prBzxWkOuq
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 26, 2018
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The prime minister was replying to Trumps allegations that Pakistan did not help the US in its fight against terrorism.
Khan, however, assured to contribute in the Afghan peace process along with other stakeholders as "peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan".
Talking about its role in peace and stability in Afghanistan, he briefed about operations conducted by Pakistan, ongoing operations, rehabilitation of displaced people, socio-economic development projects and fencing along Pak-Afghanistan border.
"We are for peace beyond borders especially in Afghanistan. We shall play our role in Afghan peace process along with other stake holders as peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan," Khan was quoted as saying during his visit to tribal areas.
PM in NWD. “We are for peace beyond borders especially in Afghanistan. We shall play our role in Afghan peace process along with other stake holders as peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan”, PM. (2 of 3). pic.twitter.com/Ddbdrtpufx
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 26, 2018
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In early November, the duo got engaged into a full-blown Twitter war after Trump accused Pakistan of "doing nothing" in its fight against Taliban terrorists since 2001 in Afghanistan.
....We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That’s ENDING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2018
Miffed over Trump's allegations, Khan replied “Trump’s false assertions add insult to the injury Pak has suffered in US WoT in terms of lives lost, destabilised and economic costs. He needs to be informed about historical facts. Pak has suffered enough fighting US's war. Now we will do what is best for our people and our interests."
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Its been a quite long time now that the US has been seeking an exit strategy from Pakistan and in recent months Washington has held direct talks with the Taliban representatives to end the 17-year long war.
