Page 12 - Pakistan Link - July 2, 2021

P12 – PAKISTAN LINK – JULY 2, 2021 PAKISTAN
‘Can Be Partners with US in Peace but Government Urged to Follow

Never in Conflict,’ Says PM Imran Proposals on US Ties Given in 2012

The prime minister said that in a meeting of the US Senate, an American commander had claimed that the Pakistan government did The Senate defense committee reminded the government about the PCNS report at a time
“not tell the truth” to its citizens. “We disrespected ourselves, the world did not disrespect us.” The events of those days dented the na- when the US and Pakistan are negotiating the future of their relationship after the change
tion’s self-esteem and Pakistanis became “ashamed of themselves”, he said in administration in Washington and withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Im- “not tell the truth” to its citizens. after being elected prime minister, Islamabad: The Senate Committee any agreement or MoU on military co-

ran Khan on Wednesday strongly “We disrespected ourselves, the the opposition refused to allow him on Defense and National Security on operation and logistics matters would
emphasized that Pakistan could be world did not disrespect us.” to speak claiming that the election Tuesday asked the government to ad- be widely circulated among relevant
“partners with the United States He said that overseas Pakistanis had been rigged. “When [former US here to the recommendations given in ministries and the parliament’s com-

in peace but never in conflict” and hid their faces after the raid by US president Donald] Trump claimed the 2012 report of Parliamentary Com- mittee on national security for vet-

criticized past policies that had led Navy Seals in Abbottabad in which the same, the media asked him to mittee on National Security (PCNS) ting before finalization and that the
to Pakistan joining the US war on Osama Bin Laden was killed because give proof.” while setting the future course of ties concerned minister would give policy
terror in Afghanistan. “our ally did not trust us enough to He said the PTI had made ef- with the United States. statements on the issue in both houses

He made the comments dur- carry out the attack.” forts to stop rigging after the 2013 The directive was given during of the parliament.
ing a wide-ranging speech in the The events of those days dented general elections and as a result of a meeting of the defense committee The Senate defense committee

National Assembly, a day after the the nation’s self-esteem and Paki- its efforts, a judicial commission was that was chaired by Senator Mushahid reminded the government about the
budget for the new fiscal year was stanis became “ashamed of them- formed in 2015 which stated that Hussain Sayed. PCNS report at a time when the US

approved with a majority vote. selves”, he said. “irregularities happened when the A copy of the recommendations and Pakistan are negotiating the future

“When we gave so many ser- The premier warned that a polling ended”. on US ties, which were unanimously of their relationship after the change
vices, did they (US) praise us or ac- “very tough time” was coming for “We came to one result — the approved by the parliament on April in administration in Washington and

knowledge our sacrifices? Instead, Pakistan in view of the situation in only solution is EVMs,” he stressed. 12, 2012, was sent by the committee to withdrawal of foreign troops from Af-
they called us hypocrite and blamed Afghanistan. He said he was thank- “All that [post-voting] period rig- the defense ministry with a note that ghanistan.
us. Instead of appreciating us, Paki- ful that the US had recognized there ging can be eliminated if result these should be considered as “Paki- Pakistan has been emphasizing

stan was bad-mouthed.” was no military solution to the con- comes [immediately] after election.” stan’s state policy guidelines”. that it intends to focus on trade and

The prime minister said that as flict in the neighboring country but The premier said his govern- Senator Mushahid presented to economic aspect of the bilateral rela-

a Pakistani, he had never felt more it should have done so earlier. ment was “ready to listen” if the op- the committee the copy of the terms tionship, but US has been demanding
“insulted” than when Pakistan de- “Afghanistan has never accept- position had any other “advice” re- of engagements prepared by PCNS, bases for drones on Pakistani soil for
cided to join the United States war ed interference from outside. If we garding the reforms, warning that if which was then headed by Senator future counterterrorism operations in
on terror. “We decided to become were proactive and a self-respecting they were not passed, rigging could Raza Rabbani. Afghanistan.
a front line state for the American government stood up and said [the happen in future Senate elections The Rabbani-led PCNS was Prime Minister Imran Khan has

war on terror. I questioned repeat- US] is wrong, then we would have and by-polls. tasked by the government to review time and again said that the govern-
edly, what did we have to do with protected them (Afghans).” Moving on to the budget for the terms of engagement with the US ment would not allow US bases.
the war?” Prime Minister Imran said that FY22, the premier said he first want- in the aftermath of the November 2011 The defense committee, on this

He said he wanted the nation to after deciding that there was no ed to talk about his vision. “The bud- Salala incident in which at least 28 occasion, also unanimously adopted

remember that period forever and military solution to the conflict in get should reflect a country’s vision,” Pakistani troops were martyred in an the Work Plan for 2021, which includ-

the “idiocy” of the policies at the Afghanistan and setting an exit date, he said and paid tribute to Finance attack by US forces on Pakistani mili- ed detailed briefings on the three ser-

time. the US wanted Pakistan to bring the Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team tary check-posts along Pak-Afghan vices as well as briefing on intelligence

“Does any country get involved Taliban to the negotiation table. who he said had “made the budget border. and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Commit-

in another’s [war] and lose 70,000 “What leverage do we have? We according to my vision for Pakistan”. The prescribed terms of engage- tee, visits to Siachen, Waziristan and
lives?” he asked. “What they (US) can only tell them that if you go [to- Prime Minister Imran said the ment deal with issues like bases, for- the LoC for solidarity with the soldiers,
said, we kept doing. [Former presi- wards military activity] then there budget should reflect three prin- eign ‘boots on the ground’, and foreign briefing on CPEC security, visits to

dent Pervez] Musharraf said in his will be civil war.” ciples: justice, humanity and self- intelligence operations on Pakistani CMH and other military hospitals to
book that he took money and sent The premier clarified that Paki- independence. territory. express sympathy with those wounded

people to Guantanamo [Bay jail]. stan did not want to have favorites He said that when the PTI gov- The Senate defense committee during counter-terrorism operations

“The matter did not stop there, or choose sides, insisting “whoever ernment came to power, the coun- noted that all of these were now forbid- as well as a special visit to the graves of
they (US) ordered us to send our Afghan people choose, we are with try’s biggest problem was the cur- den under the parliament’s directive. Nishan-i-Haider martyrs on Septem-

army to tribal areas. We sent our them.” rent account deficit. “[Pakistan] had The PCNS report had categorical- ber 6, the Defense of Pakistan Day.

army to tribal areas. They were our Electoral reforms: The premier the biggest deficit in history which ly stated that “no covert or overt opera- Senator Mushahid said that the
people. What was the result of that?” said that all elections in Pakistan means our currency was in danger. tions inside Pakistan shall be permit- defense committee would function
he questioned. “I was called Taliban after 1970 had been “controversial”, Our team was new and we had no ted”; “no private security contractors above party lines with a national per-

Khan when I said this was wrong.” including the recent polls for the experience ... We took many diffi- and/or intelligence operatives shall be spective that sought to preserve, pro-

The premier termed it the Senate. cult steps to stabilize our economy allowed”; and “Pakistan’s territory will tect and promote Pakistan’s defense
“darkest period of our history” when He said that the PTI govern- which were painful.” not be provided for the establishment and national security, while also pro-

Pakistan did not know which was a ment had been trying to bring elec- The premier thanked countries of foreign bases”. moting intra-institutional harmony.
friendly country and which was not. tion reforms for the last two years so like UAE, Saudi Arabia and China for Guidelines for future agreements He emphasized that issues per-
“Have you heard of a friendly coun- parties would accept the results of “protecting us from defaulting”. with foreign governments were also set taining to defense and national se-
try carrying out attacks and drone the election even if they lost. How- He shared that his government by PCNS, which had said that in future curity required a “whole of nation”
strikes in your country?” he asked. ever, the opposition had been refus- had avoided going to the IMF ini- the government would not make any approach since the role of the armed
“A terrorist is sitting in Lon- ing to discuss the proposed reforms tially because of its “strict conditions” “verbal agreements” on matters per- forces, the government, parliament,
don since 30 years. Will they give with the government for over a year, but it was forced to do so because of taining to national security. people, media and political parties was
us permission to attack him?” he he pointed out. the tough economic situation of the It was further stated by PCNS that inextricably intertwined.
questioned in an apparent reference Requesting the opposition to country.
to Muttahida Qaumi Movement engage with the government on “Then Covid came. An economy remained protected from the worst as well.

(MQM) founder Altaf Hussain. electoral reforms, the prime minis- which was already in pain, it got Co- eff ects of the pandemic. “The State Bank of Pakistan in-

“If they will not give permission ter said it was a matter of the “future vid,” he said, adding that Pakistan was “The opposition attacked us, we centivized and helped industry. We
then why did we? Are we subhuman of Pakistan’s democracy”. a “fortunate nation” because God had were criticized for two months for no helped small and medium industries;

or half human or do our lives not “The time has come that [when] “specially protected us” as compared lockdowns,” he recalled. 20.5 million households were given

have enough value?” he thundered. we contest elections, no one worries to some other countries. After the coronavirus situation money through our Ehsaas program.

The prime minister said that about being defeated through rig- Prime Minister Imran cited the improved, the government “quickly So, thank God we got out in a splen-
in a meeting of the US Senate, an ging,” he added. government’s decision of “quickly decided to open construction,” he did way. We saved the economy and
American commander had claimed He recalled that when he want- deciding not to impose a complete said, adding that it also tried to re- because we imposed smart lockdowns
that the Pakistan government did ed to give a speech in parliament lockdown” as the reason that Pakistan open agriculture and export sectors in a focused way, we saved people.”
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