No favorites; just one point agenda in Afghanistan: no future govt can allow India to operate against us: PM

Speaking about the US presidential elections, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that while Joe Biden is in front in the opinion polls, Donald Trump is very unpredictable, 'because he is not like normal politicians'.

In an interview to a German magazine in Islamabad, the PM said both he and the US president are 'unorthodox' and 'did a lot of out-of-the-box-thinking' to win the elections. Regardless of who wins the US presidential elections, the PM said, Pakistan expects evenhanded treatment from the US with respect to India, especially with the dispute in Kashmir.

The US thinks that India will contain China, which is a completely flawed premise, the PM further said. "India is a threat to its neighbors, to China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and to us. It has the most extremist, racist government on the subcontinent," the premier added.

When asked about the Taliban-Afghan dialogue, the PM said his government has been fostering dialogue to resume peace there. "We have no favorites in Afghanistan. Our only interest is that the future government in Kabul does not allow India to operate from there against Pakistan," he said.

On the recent ties established by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan with Israel, the premier said unless there's a just settlement, Pakistan cannot recognize Israel.

Asked if the new law prohibiting criticism of the Pakistan Army will end freedom of speech in the country, PM said Pakistan has more freedom of speech than almost any Western country.

"Every day, our security forces lose people in battle. Every country protects its institutions, not when they do something wrong, but when they're being attacked," the PM said.