War against terrorism proved disaster for Pakistan, says Imran Khan

• The prime minister says Pakistan tried to resolve issues with India several times but Modi-led govt is not willing to take matters seriously.
• The world should accept the fact that the region is facing escalating tensions due to the Kashmir issue: PM.
• Imran says when rights of people are suppressed, like India did in Kashmir it results in violence and bloodbath.

 (Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the war against terrorism has proved a disaster for Pakistan and the country had sacrificed thousands of lives for maintaining peace in the region.

He said this while addressing an international conference in Islamabad on Thursday.

The prime minister said, “We have learnt a lesson to not become part of someone else’s war.”

“The impact of Pakistan in regional or global conflicts has not been critically analysed. We have been on the frontline in Afghan Jihad and in war on terror that had adverse impacts on our society.”

Imran Khan said that the biggest problem for Pakistan is India. He said when rights of people are suppressed, like India did in Kashmir it results in violence and bloodbath. He said Modi’s government has made lives of Kashmiri people miserable.

He said, “We tried to resolve issues with India several times but the Modi-led government is not willing to take matters seriously.”

He said under the current circumstances, it has become difficult to extend a hand of friendship to India. He said the perception of Hindutva will have far-reaching consequences.

Imran pointed out that the world should accept the fact that the region is facing escalating tensions due to the Kashmir issue and all international stakeholders should play their role to settle the dispute.

He added Iran is our neighbour and neither the US nor Pakistan want tensions to escalate between Tehran and Saudi Arabia.

He said Saudi Arabia had always extended cooperation and help to Pakistan.

He said Pakistan will play its role to defuse tensions among different states. “We have decided to play role of a mediator between warring nations and not become a party or engage in conflicts,” Imran Khan said.

He said China has progressed more than the United States in the last 20 years as it focused on its trade and economy development.