Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS
This was stated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in an interview with Express News programme ‘To the Point.’
The PTI chief said guiding the nation towards the right direction in difficult times like these is very important. He criticised the US for their double standards whereby the Americans have a different set of rules for their own people.
The Americans set the discourse in the Pakistani media, the PTI chief alleged, adding that he has been told by the Americans themselves that they are pouring a lot of money into the country’s media.
The media is not even raising the right questions, lamented the cricketer turned politician. When the United States starts saying, ‘do more’ the Pakistani media jumps on to the same bandwagon and starts saying the same thing, he went on to say.
The former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has done irreparable damage to the country, Imran Khan told Shahzeb Khanzada during the interview. “Our soldiers are facing attacks on a daily basis. They are sacrificing their lives for the country,” for a war that the PTI leader has been saying is not ours.
“If you bow in front of Americans they disparage you. No one will respect you if you have no respect for yourself,” said Khan adding, “No nation can progress without self-respect and honour.”
The Americans would not dare send drones if the PTI was in the Centre, Khan said. “Why would they stop their drone attacks when our government tells them that they can keep attacking with drones and we will keep protesting?” he asked rhetorically.
We can have peace the day we have the tribal people on our side. History tells us that there has only been peace when the locals were made allies. “I am not anti-US, anti-India. I am against their policies,” Imran Khan said.
PTI will stage a big protest in Peshawar on November 20. It will be historic. In absence of a guarantee of no drone attacks from the US, talks with Taliban cannot take place because in the past it has happened three times at least that the US sabotaged the talks. This was the fourth time that the US has done this.
Transcribed and translated by Arshad Shaheen
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COMMENTS (112)
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@Ali: Nooooo True Karachi wala…..we have had debates many times. And you lost or ran away in the end.
We never ran away. It's ET that does not let our reply appear here and make people like you feel a winner.
@TRUE Boy: Change the beautiful City of Pakistan – The Mini Pakistan – The Multicultural City into THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY OF THE WORLD Shame !
You are truly a boy who does not know what factors historical and present have contributed to this sitauation. When we got a real opportunity with corresponding power and resources Mustafa Kamal turned city into a model and set new standards in public sector to finish projects.
@Jawad U Rahman: Dear Jawad U Raham, You are obviously an expert in regard to confusion, but in contrast IK is a rational person who understands that due to US/NATO activities more Islamic people, from the Mediterranean to the Sub-Continent, have been removed from planet earth than at any time in recent history. Additionally, K appears to be the only person on planet earth attempting to solve Pakistani problems, unless of course you consider bombs to be a good negotiating tool, and we all know the Americans are very good at that when it is someone else's country, although they do seem to get upset when it happens in the US.
@Aysha M: How can MQM say Karach is theirs, when Muhajirs are less than 50% of the population? Not all Muhajirs vote MQM either. Many voted in PTI and JI in the last elections. Karachi is for all Pakistanis, regardless of ethnicity, and this includes Pukhtoons, Baloch, Sindhis, Punjabis, Seraikis, and other groups. We are proud of our Rangers for arresting these MQM goons. Stop being an ethnic extremist and follow Islam. Be loyal to Pakistan first.
His vocabulary does not include TTP-will never say anything against them.Nor comment on Mullah Munawar Hasan for denigrating the Pakistani army.On the other hand,PTI is the de facto political arm of TTP!
the full and accurate statement should have been... I am not anti-America, I am not anti-India - I am just anti-reason. I am just confused.
@Aysha M:
Good question Ayesha. You have framed it right. Politicians can build their platforms by promising the positive, and Mr Khan has chosen the path of negativity.
The Afghan Taliban have to be drawn into dialogue for the final settlement in Afghanistan with the premise that the end result will be the recognition of the Afghan constitution with negotiated amendments to make it more palatable to the Taliban. The negotiated settlement would also require the Afghan Taliban to relinquish ties with the international Jihadists like Al Qaeda. An interim period needs to be agreed to as part of the settlement which would allow the US a presence to help safeguard the rights of the other ethnic minorities as well as women.as currently guaranteed by the Afghan consitution which was duly affirmed by the duly elected Afghan parliament as well as a loya Jirga
The Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan on the other hand have rebelled against the State of Pakistan with the motivation to turn Pakistan into their version of a Shariah administered state whilst recognizing the right to transnational Jihad. Their current links to Al Qaeda indicate that they sincerely believe that there cannot be negotiations with the US.
The US and the Pakistani current focus is on eliminating those in the leadership position of these insurgents who are not going to reconcile and degrading the leadership enough to motivate them to become open to negotiations.
Mr Khan it appears has not matured as a politician over the decades
@Zara: Before pointing fingers, ask your Imran Khan to stop being a TTP agent and mocking the 35000 murder committed by his TTP brothers.
@Usman: Sir, because we have compromised oursleves so much with respect to our moral and social obligations, and then our respect to almighty dollar (cash-in-hand), via corruption that anyone and everyone can ask, request, blackmail and/or arm twist us with the help of any one these considerations. Hence, we no longer serve our interest but others interests. We need to have a backbone to stand up, and face the consequences, in addition it also requires moral courage. Ironically, we love to hate the 'west' and US in particular but we always keep our wealth in US dollars.
@Liberal: That was expected of you - When all logic fails, cry foul. Teen Talwar is in a constituency which was never a strong MQM base. The rest of Karachi showed a consistent pattern, in elections both Pre and Post operation, national, provincial, or LB. Your conscience will tell you that, if you do away with your prejudice. At least the guy thousands of miles away is not standing for elections. Your Imran Khan is acting nothing less than a TTP agent and just wants to use Karachi for a few more seats (which he will always claim is rigged since he will never win).
@Zara: well said, also were they not the karachiwalas which prompted the very first military take over, forcing even the military Governor Ayub Khan to make Islamabad as the new capital of Pakistan next to the military head quarters?
Rex Minor
I made a simple request to put my comments through, not write comments for me, ET, interesting to see people’s keenness maintained to use my ID
Aysha M 9 hours ago Reply Please do not block my comments. I want to say that MQM is the most sane party. They can burn down Karachi whenever they like. You got a problem with that? Recommend3
Aysha M 9 hours ago Reply Karachi is MQM’s property. No one dare look at it. Recommend5
Aysha M 9 hours ago Reply I support PMLN. I will live for them, die for them. Recommend3
Aysha M 8 hours ago Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: It is some other Aysha M who wants to join PMLN. Not me. I am not that dumb enough to join a family run political party. I am still with MQM or MRA. Long live Altaf pai.
@unbelievable: What relevance does North Korea and North Vietnam have in this particular topic? If my memory is correct the US was tossed out of North Korea in 1953, and was then soundly thrashed and pushed out of Vietnam in 1975. Very little serious negotiating took place. In contrast, IK is doing the right thing and trying to bring peace to the region. American/NATO forces have had their chance and continually blown it for 12 years now. Now It is time for them to accept their obvious defeat, go home, and give somebody else a chance to straighten out the 12 year mess they have created, which stretches from the Mediterranean to the Sub-Continent.
Fighting words. But look what happened to all the noise-makers in history. Gadhafi, Saddam, Iran (now begging for a deal). Either you clean up your own territory or the rest of the world will do it for you - with or without your permission. You cannot nurture them and send them over to wreak havoc and expect the world to say "non-state actors".
Only and only any countries' leaders make the countries inglorious,disgraceful,dishonored and disrespectful in the world not majority of the people because when they beg for vote they never promise their people for war but promise for peace,prosperity,integrity and sovereignty.This is why US' and Indian leaders' absolutely wrongful,harmful and negative foreign policies for the others are making US and India inglorious,disgraceful,dishonored and disrespectful not the these countries' people....
I bet most of these people are just commenting on headlines and just a handful actually watched the embedded video.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: Imran Khan, you are loved from FATA to KP to Punjab to Karachi. There is only one selfless leader for Pakistan, and that is Imran Khan.
By elections of August 22nd shows how much he is loved in Karachi, please dont include Karachi, we have much more sense than that
We are proud of you, Imran Khan. The people of KP love your good work here. In sha Allah, let the whole of Pakistan see this. Imran Khan, you are loved from FATA to KP to Punjab to Karachi. There is only one selfless leader for Pakistan, and that is Imran Khan. All foreign powers will try to prevent his rise, they fear a powerful, united, and independent Pakistan.
@Imtiaz: If our allies are pursuing their national interests then why are we pursuing their national interests and not ours?
If one talk truth about America or india he or she is called anti such country but what they talking and doing against muslims its not anti ???? why such a hypocracy of words.
@Sadiq: Karachiites have definitely had a tough time shaking off the yolk that tends to cling on by way of fictitious votes, threats and politically targeted assassinations. But they made a lot of ground in the 2013 general elections - stood by their right to vote, and voted. A small bunch at Teen Talwar managed to upstage a man sitting thousands of miles away. Incredible.
Coming to Musharraf, I wasn't referring to strength in assemblies, but that on the ground. With important ministries in the provincial cabinet, the post of governorship and the local government to their name, you managed to regroup and consolidate from an almost extinct state after the Operation. THAT's where you were resurrected - selling your principles - as you've proudly demonstrated time and again during the recently ended PPP government.
I honestly don't even need to make my case here. You know very well who you truly are and what your position in Karachi truly is. What could be a better judge than one's conscience.
In principle he is correct and every sane and logical person would agree, but unfortunately we have compromised our integrity and sovreignty far beyond any salvage, that is the reason we can be blackmailed and/or arm twisted into everything that we so adamantly insist that we should not do. Khan sahib is a kaghzi sher, but sher no doubt, by now he should realize how the real world works. If Pakistan does not deliver against the 'US Dollars' taken and used, we will be made an example of to be remembered for a long time. It will start with UN regulations towards a country aiding and abetting terrorists, there will be economic and trade embargos, if he thinks friendly states will help, he must be introduced to another harsh reality - among nations there are no friends only interests. Does he have a solution to save Pakistan from that, because by then all the people who have looted and plundred the wealth of Pakistan would have left. As the saying goes the capital of Pakistan is in Swiss banks. All the people who dare drones, US et al will be the first to line up for the US Visa, green card. Let's make our tall claims based on some sense and sensibility. God help this nation and country.
@Liberal: Still dreaming haan? They won in 2008 (when Musharraf has become weak) and 2013 (when Musharraf was out and being persecuted) as well as the Karachi bi-elections in 2013. LB elections coming up: they will win again by all logic, since their prior performance in LB has been unprecedented. So what is it, if not becoming stronger? As for the Musharraf factor, they actually won lesser seats in 2002 (when Musharraf was strong) than later or earlier elections. Accept it: Karachiites have supported them consistently and will give no heed to your khans, sharifs, etc.
Then what are you confused Khan?
It doesn't matter for India if you are anti or pro India.........
@F Khan: How does negotiating with your enemy makes a person pro-enemy? That logic by bunch of idiots like you amazes me. Every country or nation in past history has been NEGOTIATING with their enemies, coming to a common ground and stop unnecessary fighting. That doesn't make them PRO-enemy. That makes them logical and sensible people who are fed up with all the fighting. Watch the show "to the point" Imran Khan clearly states that TTP is the enemy but we have to still have to negotiate with them and that doesn't make him PRO-TTP. USA soldiers are killed by Afghan Taliban (their enemy) everyday yet they still try to negotiate with them.
@Adnan Siddiqi: were you born up side down? The funds coming from US are part of previous Govt. projects which are scheduled to finish by 2015 and mostly from US organization headed by some overseas Pakistani. PTI is a sensible party, they are not like PPP or PMLN who always shutdown all previous Govt projects when they come into power. What ever is good for the province should continue. Pakistani like you are the reason this country is so segregated and not prospering. Bunch of emotional and aggressive fools always jumping to conclusions, spreading misinformation, and trying to create unnecessary fitna. Whether you disagree or agree with Imran Khan, he is sincere with Pakistan and his intentions are for betterment of the country, and are in good faith.
I am not Ant-US, Anti India...I am just Anti Reason
I am with you imran khan nato supply should stop till peace talk.
I am a die hard "Critical" Supporter of Imran and I would have thought Imran, preaching about "Ghayrut" would have had Ghayrut enough to publicly tell Munawar Hussain that he gave a wrong statement rather than beat about the bush. Imran you disjointed me!
He is not anti US and Anti India, He is Anti-Every thing except Taliban.
The problem with Imran's argument is that he is looking at only part of the picture. He is right in saying that you should carry the locals with you. But what would you do if the locals are dacoits or terrorists. You still talk to them provided they agree to a pre-set agenda for talks. In this case, TTP is not agreeing to anything, only issuing dictates- a)Change the country to their liking b)stop Us drones and c)no laying down of arms d)who they will talk to-only Mullahs . Not only giving dictates, they have killed far too many civilians and army man for no reason. They have blown up schools and freed prisoners. How can anybody talk to such people without agreeing to proper pre-conditions.
Imran can't compare this situation with US' talks with Afghan Taliban because US has laid both pre-conditions as well as agenda. In fact the talks stalled when Afghan Taliban raised flag and put an 'Emirates' label. They were made to back out. US and Afghan Taliban continued with attacks on each other, even as peace talks progressed, because they had not agreed to a ceasefire. In Pakistan's case, TTP violated the ceasefire by killing the Pak Army General and blowing up the Christians. In addition US has a justification for killing this guy. Pak govt. should have negotiated with US to stall drone attacks because of peace talks. However the Pak govt and its parties did not any plan for talks and the talks had not even started. The talks would have lead to nothing. The views of TTP and their supporters that killed Army men are not martrys sshows their mindset. Can you even talk with these people?
Imran is delusional!
A child poiltician. IK! Don't you know that media is saying what you are saying? You are angry because like Taliban, you also want to impose your opinion on the whole of country. You are becoming a shame instead of fame for the country by doing all this. You are a 'Talib' - want to gain their sympathies so as to gain votes for PTI in FATA in future. Thats your dream. If you were sincere with Wazir and Maseed you would have never asked the world and the Government to stop drone strikes. This is the only hope of people in that area to whom there is no difference between a Talib and the Military.
IK is not anti-US, anti-india BUT he definitely is anti-Pakistan. keeping soft corner for the butchers of Nation is definitely anti-Pakistan. IK has been a great disappointment
Why did he add India's name in there while discussing drone attacks ?? How come he forgot Israel ? Is it because Jenima may get upset ?
afghan intelligence should support IMRAN KHAN,the pak army will have to launch a operation against TTP in any case,we would just need to term pak army UNISLAMIC and then we can pay back the pain inflicted on afgans mainly pashtuns due to power politics of PUNJABIS.
ET you wont get a simple statement like this on strategic affairs.
ETBLOGS1987
@Asif: 1) US only holds talks with Afghan Taliban at its own Tedms. It stopped the talks when Afghan Taliban put up a board proclaiming Emirate of Afghanistan. Pakistan on the other hand does not even insist that TTP recognize its own constitution.
2) US continues it's operation. There is no stop to that. Pakistan continues peace talks when it's soldiers and generals are killed but TTP stops talks when one of its leaders is killed.
From the above 2 you can see the difference. Anyway, US has never said that Pakistan cannot or should not pursue peace talks with TTP. However Hakimullah Mehsud had killed 7 CIA agents, so for 3 years they had head money of 5 million on his head and when they got actionable intelligence, they acted. They had said so in clear terms to Chaudhry Nisar also.
By the way, you think it is normal that TTP should stop peace talks because US droned Hakimullah but are surprised when India puts peace talks on hold when 5 of its soldiers are killed? There was no objection raised to that derailment of peace talk by Chaudhry Nisar or Imran Khan. Do you not find that strange?
I’m not anti-US, anti-India, says Imran but I am anti-Pakistan
The United States is hypocritical: whereas the country is going ahead with holding talks with the Afghan Taliban, it is stopping Pakistan from doing the same with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. . Rubbish - the American's don't stop combat when they talk with their enemies. Ask N Korea or N Vietnam - better yet ask the Afgan Taliban since you provide them sanctuary in Pakistan.
@Liberal: Mr. Liberal, MQM has faced way too many problems too many times than little things such as your fascination with the 'pile of cash'. It survived every single time, growing stronger. If you still want to keep dreaming, dream on! "Dil ko khush rakhne ko Ghalib ye khayal achha hai" :) .
This man, Imran Khan, will keep the youngsters confused. He has equated militants with tribal people. And all the Imran fans are buying that. Pathetic that even after this man consistently pardons mass murder of 35000-40000 people, he gets supporters from the so-called 'educated' lot. He keeps saying 'not our war', when it is us whose fellow citizens keep getting murdered by his TTP brothers and instead of calling for action against TTP, he asks for offices to be opened for them.
@Aysha M: 'Karachi is MQM's property.' Dream on! Those times are over. You better worry about the Scotland Yard, that pile of cash, and countless murders that are under investigation.
No IK, you are not anti anything, you are just one very, very confused man
So the Americans told Imran that they are pouring a lot of money into Pakistani media? Why would they do that? Sounds like a Bollywood potboiler where the villain spells out in detail his evil plans to the hero!!!!
So the Americans told this former cricketer that they are pouring a lot of money into Pakistani media. Why would they do that? Sounds like a Bollywood movie where the villain spells out his evil plan in detail to the hero!
He's finally got his politics right.
But no amount of rewording can set right his obnoxious stance - appeasement for the terrorists, concessions before talks, no sympathy expressed for the victims.
@Ayesha Khi is no ones property. Was a big MQM supporter and still am but Khi is no ones property. There should be Free and fair elections. Also the leader needs to retire ppl have had enough of him
Imran makes sense. the only way is peace. we cant fight forever. the longer we fight the longer external forces will take advantage of us.
He's not anit american nor anti india; he's just Pro-Taliban; and their apologist to the antion
Imran Khan is ignoring the fact that he is one of the actors in the Shkespeare play and not merely the spectator. He has to act and not only make populist statements.
Rex Minor
he is voice of each person who knows the meaning of "self respect" and "dignity".
@mamu:
If self respect and honor is such a big deal, ask your leader to cease his chanda activity in North America and Europe and instruct his CM to cut off all USAID and European Union funded projects in KPK.
may be I.K afraid of drone
@mrs ahmed I am from Karachi and I know pretty much what people of karachi thinks about your so called forward looking progressive party..... Please correct your facts on who is more confused.... Just ask your progressive party why they have endorsed dialogues with Talibans when they are against dialogues.... This tells very clearly who is what....
@Aysha M
You are absolutely rubbish when you say IK has pushed the nation into foggy whatever of confusion, this guy is the only one who is against the operation since 2003 and he is the only one who want the nation to be unite for Pakistan, we have lost enough lives, if peace can be prevailed by dialogues when we have been fighting for last 10 years, then whats the fuss is all about????? In APC, all political parties agreed on dialogue proceedure? Were they all confused by IK as well??? Talk with sense and facts !!
@Ayesha M Ruling more than a decade under leadership of British National how good you transform the CITY OF LIGHTS in RUINS and NO GO Area - What to proud you allies of Britishers and Americans
@Aysha M: very pertinant , person with clearity just need to say what he is and not have a long list of what he is not . In karachi ppl are following a forward looking progressive party , of clarity and focus , towards equality among people acroos ethnicity , religion gender etc , therfeore confuse khan needs to tell us in clear words wht he is and not count what he is not.
@F Khan: Spot on, my friend
IK is right. He is not anti-US or anti-India. He is only pro-TTP.
Instead of saying what you are not, could you pls say who you are and what you stand for. You have successfully pushed the nation into foggy abyss of confusion by choosing TTP as your political ally. This is who you are, at least you cant fool us in Karachi
He is just A Patriot. thanks GOD we have him
IK is the most selfish person the world has ever seen. He is going to destroy Pakistan, and the pti supporters would regret by being on the wrong side. History would be the witness. While Asad umar collects funds for PTI in the US and happily terms ttp an enemy. Is the US hypocritical or Imran himself?
The Lion Speaks !
Though this man doesn't need any certificate from anybody to prove anything, but as disclosed by world famous Wikileaks that he is the ONLY politician out of the influence of US, and that point is endorsed absolutely is his every interview, where he speaks out on most critical matters without the fear of anyone. So respect for the most AUDACIOUS LEGEND of Pakistan.
I'm anti common sense.
The logic of the PTI chief is twisted to say the least. His approach to terrorism is dictated by fear rather than logic.
He is just anti common sense....
Really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are simply pro Taliban and JI!
I might have reservations about Khan, but i do agree with some of his comments:
1) Why US can hold talks with Afghan Taliban and is OK with Pakistan releasing Afghan Taliban to start negotiating process. But when we do the same with TTP, US is against it.
2) Why everyone in favor of Military actions forgets that military is operating in tribal areas for last 5-6 years and are failing. Even ISPR says that doing operation in North Waziristan has a projected success rate of 40% and will result in massive causalities (both military and civilian)
Only Real Lion is Nawaz Sharif! Your statement makes me laugh that you are not anti India and anti American! Please get real!
It's reality and we are 100% agree with Imran Khan.
IK is 100 per cent correct. In fact he is repeating the obvious and what Iqbal emphasised long ago. You must learn to respect yourselves in order that others may respect you. As to his charge about Pakistani media, you can smell the pong of the greenback from what it dishes out. One pundit for instance equates insurgency with invasion by likening TTP terrorism to US drones.
It is kosher for America to talk with Afghan Taliban but not for Pakistan to talk with its own citizens, because in return for dollars America must dictate Pakistan's domestic and foreign policies.
Finally, what prevents Pakistan at least to send a simple notice to Americans that after a given date it may shoot down any intruding drones, and see how they react?
I'm not satisfied with Imran in KPK but everything he says is right.
Only MAN in Pakistan who can say this loud against this so called media outlets, Proud of you IK
the PTI chief alleged, adding that he has been told by the Americans themselves that they are pouring a lot of money into the country’s media*
*
"We can have peace the day we have the tribal people on our side. History tells us that there has only been peace when the locals were made allies. “I am not anti-US, anti-India. I am against their policies,” Imran Khan said."
He thinks tribal people and Taliban are one and the same, I wonder who were those people that constituted tribal lashkars to fight against the Taliban?
IK must condemn and distance itself from JI after their recent statements! Why hasnt he said anything against it so far?
A wise enemy is better than a stupid friend. May God save Pakistan from it's stupid friends which are many.
Khan is a True true true Pakistani
Is he, or is he not blocking the NATO supply line on 21st?
The real Lion of Pakistan "Imran Khan"