New US policy aims to de-nuclearise Pakistan: Imran

PTI chief stresses need for developing consensus on the issue

ISLAMABAD: Terming President Donald Trump’s strategy for Afghanistan as “biggest failure of Pakistan’s foreign policy” PTI chief Imran Khan has said the new US policy is aimed at de-nuclearising Pakistan. He also called for a special parliamentary session “to develop consensus on the matter of national interest and security”.

Imran on Wednesday addressed an exclusive press conference in Bani Gala over the issue, saying that seeing the “pathetic” response of the government to Trump’s “open threats” he himself has decided to represent Pakistan on this front.

“Massive accusations have been levelled against Pakistan. But, neither the prime minister nor the foreign minister issued any statement to rebut Trump’s claims and to denounce the decision of giving India a key role in Afghanistan’s development,” he said.

The PTI chief slammed the government and its policy makers, asking where they were when the Jewish and Indian lobbyists were busy influencing the US government in Washington and devising that strategy primarily aimed to de-nuclearise Pakistan.



“It’s the biggest failure of Pakistan’s foreign policy. India’s major role in Afghanistan as per Trump administration’s new strategy for the region will have adverse impacts on Pakistan,” he observed.

He said it was China, instead of Pakistan, that rebutted Trump’s statement by acknowledging the sacrifices the country had rendered in the US-waged war on terror.

Imran said Trump had threatened Pakistan in open words and undermined the country’s major contributions towards that war.

“It seems Trump has no knowledge of this region. He does not know the dynamics of over a decade-old war the US has been fighting in Afghanistan,” he said.

“The Trump’s new strategy will further weaken the US government and its economy,” he said, telling Trump, “If you want peace in Afghanistan, you need Pakistan. More troops and money will not serve the purpose.”

The PTI chief said Pakistan had joined the US war contrary to the fact that no Pakistani was involved at any level in the 9/11 attack.

“First, Pakistan unnecessarily joined this war. We had nothing to do with terrorist attacks on the US soil,” he said, adding that on Washington’s request Pakistan sent its troops in tribal areas and destroyed peace there.



More than 70,000 Pakistanis lost their lives, thousands got injured, billions of rupees worth of loss was inflicted on Pakistan’s economy, but in the end that was what the country had achieved, he said, referring to the new US strategy.

“The US policy in Afghanistan has failed, as today more than 50% of Afghanistan is being ruled by Taliban. Now, the US is simply shifting the blame of its failure on Pakistan. It’s not acceptable,” he said.

Imran said in his speech Trump used the same language India consistently used against Pakistan. “We should get united and raise voice against it. Because of their war, we destroyed our own country, witnessed increase in extremism, and in the end there is no appreciation.”

He demanded that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi give a strong-worded message to the US administration instead of defending the ousted premier, Nawaz Sharif.

Talking about Gen Qamar Bajwa’s response to the Trump’s statement, Imran said army chiefs were not supposed to give such statements, but General Bajwa gave one due to existing political vacuum as no one in the political leadership was ready to respond to Trump.

“Incumbent political leadership has its interest attached with the West. They have accounts and properties abroad. How can they speak against them! They seem frightened,” he said.

Answering a question if the PTI would offer treatment to Kulsoom Nawaz at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital, he said, “We should.”

The PTI on Wednesday also submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly, demanding of the speaker to adjourn the regular business of the house to discuss Trump’s speech.