“Imran Khan’s heart beats for the Taliban but his sword serves the US,” said Rasheed, adding that the PTI chairman should refuse US aid if he wants to put an end to drone attacks.
The minister said projects worth millions of dollars were being run with US aid in K-P, adding that Imran was surrounded by people who had allowed drone attacks and celebrated a former dictator’s coup d’etat.
Rasheed said Pakistan’s close friend Turkey was also part of Nato and that it could not launch an assault on the forces of a friendly country. He also said that the government could not abandon millions of Pakistani expatriates working in Europe.
He called on the US to end drone attacks and also appealed to the Taliban to resolve all issues through dialogue. “Drone attacks are not acceptable to us in any circumstances and they must be stopped. People who use Pakistani soil to achieve their political or religious agenda are also not acceptable as they challenge our sovereignty,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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Honorable Senator - I'll be all ears when I hear what the government's strategy is. If the government comes out and states that Drones are okay, I'll be the first one to say that Khan is spreading divisions by going against the federation. All I've heard from you is hue and cry. The only thing I haven't heard is strategy.
I might disagree with Khan, but I commend that he is doing something!
Seems to me that everyone is challenging your sovereignty - Mr. Pervaiz Rasheed !
Please stop all US aid to KP. Imran Khan wants KP to turn to stone age. Good luck .
Drone strikes should continue unabated. If there are any signs that the TTP's political arm sitting in the provisional capital of Peshawar is involved in actively sheltering TTP and Taliban thugs in settled areas of KPK, the federal government should dismiss such a government for crimes and perfidy against the state.
Drones are excellent source of restricting terrorism and should have been used by our Government at the first place. The cost of producing such rally to fool the masses could have been used to illuminate a few sources of terrorism in K-P or for the economic benefit of these masses.