PM says “NO” to US

LAHORE: (Web Desk) Prime Minister Imran Khan once again reiterates Pakistan’s stance of not giving its military bases to United States for keeping an eye on Afghanistan.

In an opinion piece in Washington Post, the premier offered US partnership for peace in Afghanistan but made it clear that Pakistan will not host US bases to avoid risking further conflict.

According to prime minister Imran Khan giving military bases to the US will bring more destruction to the country.

Imran Khan argued, “If Pakistan were to agree to host US bases, from which to bomb Afghanistan, and an Afghan civil war ensued, Pakistan would be targeted for revenge by terrorists again. We simply cannot afford this. We have already paid too heavy a price.”

The prime minister opined that Pakistan and the US had the same interest in that long-suffering country: a political settlement, stability, economic development and the denial of any haven for terrorists.

While making it clear that Pakistan has no favourities in Afghanistan, Imran Khan stressed that there must be a negotiated settlement of the conflict with inclusion of the Afghan Taliban in any form of the government for its success.