Cutting defence budget will leave Pakistan vulnerable: Imran Khan

Imran says defence budget can only be cut after conflicts are resolved through dialogue.

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said that cutting the defence budget at a stage when the country is “fighting at two borders” will leave it more vulnerable, reported Radio Pakistan on Monday.

“Pakistan is a vulnerable state and we are fighting at two borders including the war on terror and conflicts with India. If we cut the defence budget at this stage, then it would leave the country more vulnerable” Imran told Radio Pakistan in an exclusive interview.

The PTI Chairman emphasised that to be able to cut the defence budget, the country would have to resolve ongoing conflicts through dialogue first.

Justifying his party’s possible seat adjustment with the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Imran said that the JI was the only party who stood by the PTI and boycotted the 2008 elections.

Imran claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) had participated in the last elections due to international pressure, as their wealth was lying in foreign banks, the report added.

Imran also said that his party will launch a national popular campaign for “change in the country” in the coming weeks.