Will declare jihad to save Pakistan: Imran Khan
Khan says will bring Mumbai attacks perpetrators to justice if made prime minister of Pakistan.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said that he will “declare jihad to save Pakistan” and “will disarm all militants group operating in the country,” reported Mail Today on Wednesday.
In an interview with the Indian daily, Khan spoke on the issue of terrorism in Pakistan and said that terror leaders can be “transformed.”
“I am sure they can be put into nation building, human beings can change. I will make them realise that militancy is not a solution.”
The PTI chief, who is currently present in India to attend the World Economic Forum in Gurgaon, said that he will bring the culprits behind Mumbai attacks to justice, if he is made the prime minister of Pakistan.
Khan assured that as the prime minister, he would ensure that terrorism does not stem from the Pakistani soil.
He said:
“India must understand the legal process takes time, but I will bring the Mumbai perpetrators to justice. We have to follow the rule of law.”
The daily says that during the interview, the PTI chief was confident of winning the elections. “I have created the only democratic party in Pakistan. We are now preparing for a democratic tsunami,” said Khan.
End US drone attacks
Khan said he hoped President Barack Obama would "give peace a chance" and stop US drone attacks now he had been re-elected, AFP reported.
The PTI chief has campaigned for an end to US drone strikes against suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, saying they result in civilian casualties.
"What Pakistan would be hoping for is a de-escalation of violence now in Afghanistan and the drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas," he said.
Khan said that Obama's first term in office had been "very tough on Pakistan - an increase in drone attacks and a surge in Afghanistan and increased militancy in Pakistan as a result."
"Now he (Obama) is no longer under the pressure to be re-elected we hope that he will give peace a chance which we so desperately need," he said.
Khan said he wanted Obama to call a ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying that if Americans do not "get it right it is conceivable that they will leave it in a bigger mess than they found it."
Relationship with India
Speaking about Pakistan’s relationship with India, he said he was “in favour of a new relationship.”
“All these years we have had a relationship which was detrimental to the entire subcontinent. We moved one step forward, two steps backward. Mumbai came, (and) we were back to square one.”
Khan urged that there was a need for leadership of both countries to take on vested interests. “Who want to make money on the conflict?” He said young people “were tired of the continuing hostility between the two countries.”
No military solution to resolve Kashmir issue
The PTI chief said that a military solution could not help resolve the Kashmir issue and said that as the Pakistani premier, he will take the peace initiative. “It can be resolved. I will work on a road map by making people from India, Pakistan and Kashmiris look for a solution by sitting on a table.”
He added, “India is using troops in Kashmir. They are losing the battle of heart and minds. It’s like treating cancer with dispirin.”
‘No ties with the ISI’
When questioned about his ties with the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Pakistan Army, Khan said that he will “quit politics if anyone can prove I have taken one rupee from the ISI.”
In an interview with the Indian daily, Khan spoke on the issue of terrorism in Pakistan and said that terror leaders can be “transformed.”
“I am sure they can be put into nation building, human beings can change. I will make them realise that militancy is not a solution.”
The PTI chief, who is currently present in India to attend the World Economic Forum in Gurgaon, said that he will bring the culprits behind Mumbai attacks to justice, if he is made the prime minister of Pakistan.
Khan assured that as the prime minister, he would ensure that terrorism does not stem from the Pakistani soil.
He said:
“India must understand the legal process takes time, but I will bring the Mumbai perpetrators to justice. We have to follow the rule of law.”
The daily says that during the interview, the PTI chief was confident of winning the elections. “I have created the only democratic party in Pakistan. We are now preparing for a democratic tsunami,” said Khan.
End US drone attacks
Khan said he hoped President Barack Obama would "give peace a chance" and stop US drone attacks now he had been re-elected, AFP reported.
The PTI chief has campaigned for an end to US drone strikes against suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, saying they result in civilian casualties.
"What Pakistan would be hoping for is a de-escalation of violence now in Afghanistan and the drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas," he said.
Khan said that Obama's first term in office had been "very tough on Pakistan - an increase in drone attacks and a surge in Afghanistan and increased militancy in Pakistan as a result."
"Now he (Obama) is no longer under the pressure to be re-elected we hope that he will give peace a chance which we so desperately need," he said.
Khan said he wanted Obama to call a ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying that if Americans do not "get it right it is conceivable that they will leave it in a bigger mess than they found it."
Relationship with India
Speaking about Pakistan’s relationship with India, he said he was “in favour of a new relationship.”
“All these years we have had a relationship which was detrimental to the entire subcontinent. We moved one step forward, two steps backward. Mumbai came, (and) we were back to square one.”
Khan urged that there was a need for leadership of both countries to take on vested interests. “Who want to make money on the conflict?” He said young people “were tired of the continuing hostility between the two countries.”
No military solution to resolve Kashmir issue
The PTI chief said that a military solution could not help resolve the Kashmir issue and said that as the Pakistani premier, he will take the peace initiative. “It can be resolved. I will work on a road map by making people from India, Pakistan and Kashmiris look for a solution by sitting on a table.”
He added, “India is using troops in Kashmir. They are losing the battle of heart and minds. It’s like treating cancer with dispirin.”
‘No ties with the ISI’
When questioned about his ties with the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Pakistan Army, Khan said that he will “quit politics if anyone can prove I have taken one rupee from the ISI.”