Imran Khan criticises US for blaming Pakistan for its own “deeply flawed and failed” policy towards Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump’s revised policy towards Afghan war and allegations that Pakistan was providing “safe haven” to terrorists in the region prompted strong reactions from Pakistani politicians.



Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, in a series of tweets on Tuesday, criticised the US for blaming Pakistan for its own “deeply flawed and failed” policy towards Afghanistan.

“Just as India blames Pak for the indigenous Kashmiri uprisings when these are a result of its own failed policy of mly repression in IOK .. So the US again blames Pak for its deeply flawed & failed Afghan policy stretching over a decade,” he tweeted.

“This shd teach Pak once and for all a valuable lesson: never to fight others wars for the lure of dollars.”

“We fought 2 wars in Afghanistan at the US behest paying heavy human and economic costs both times. We sacrificed 70000 Pak lives in US WOT,” Khan stated.

“Our economy suffered over $100 billion in losses. In addition, there were intangible costs on our society. Time for Pak to say: Never again.”

“We must also reject being made scapegoats for the policy failures of the US and India,” he added.

Senator Mushahid Hussain

Senator Mushahid Hussain said Trump’s newest Afghan policy is simply “a repetition of its old mistakes” and would not render any fruitful results for the US.

He further expressed concern that the US statement on greater Indian involvement in Afghanistan could lead to a “proxy war between Pakistan and India” on Afghan soil.

Senator Sherry Rehman

Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former ambassador to the US, Senator Sherry Rehman criticised Trump’s announcement, saying the US policy towards the Afghan war has suffered from frequent U-turns.

"It is both disturbing and disappointing to hear a repeat of Pakistan being pressured to do more to stabilise Afghanistan," she said.

"After years of shouldering the heavy lift in Afghanistan and suffering the blowback of an earlier transformational war thirty years ago, Pakistan should not have had to hear recrimination as a non-NATO ally that has given unparalleled sacrifices in life, resources and national trauma to fighting a joint battle against terrorism on the Afghan border. There is little mention of the cost Pakistan has incurred or the successes it continues to achieve in clearing terrorism from the region," Rehman said.

"Attempting to isolate and unjustly treat Pakistan will only compound the problem of lead to a dangerous sharpening of strategic fault lines," observed Senator Rehman. "It will obviously be counterproductive for announced US goals to stabilise the region in cooperation with Afghanistan's neighbours. Furthermore, it may redefine the notion of blowback."

"As this new American policy beats the dead horse of Pakistani subversion in Afghanistan, it will surely be seen as unfair, and perhaps even an expedient cover for inconvenient truths: that Afghanistan has been a colossal failure of American imagination, objectives and power projection in the region," she said.

"This policy and narrative continues to sequester Pakistan as a sole harbor for terror when its military and civilians give their lives fighting for space against violent extremism," she emphasized. "This ostensible new policy is a reflection of the ongoing confusion in the American policy establishment on how to achieve its own constantly shifting and changing goal posts," said Rehman

Senator Rehman further stated that the policy is neither smart, new nor inclusive. "Pakistan foresaw the rumblings and has consistently articulated and demonstrated its commitment to the common fight against terror. Sober minds should look to containing terror as a joint global project."

Senator Rehman regretted that the unfortunate U.S. trend is to hector and not empathise that Pakistan is fighting the largest inland war against terrorism in the region. "Telling it to do more alone won't help. Not at all. The future of global and regional stability lies in joint solutions to common problems. The movements of terrorism, disease, climate trauma are all border less challenges and must be countered in coordinated forums."

"We must recognise that there are no military solutions to these long wars, and policy clarity, regional cooperation and strategic consensus is critical to preserving key rights gains made in many parts of Afghanistan. Pakistan is invested more than any country in stability and peace in Afghanistan, especially given our long border and history of traffic and refugee hosting, so a more constructive path is better advised for all those committed to the same goals," concluded Senator Rehman.

“The [US] has given no timeline, no numbers. Yet, their statement is getting more and more [hostile] towards the region,” she said.

Senator Rehman emphasised that Pakistan has always preferred to resolve all issues peacefully.

“The PPP has always defended Pakistan soil and the country’s interests, and has always been in the frontline in securing national interest,” she added.

She also tweeted her reservations over Trump's address.

Trump, in his first formal address to the nation as commander-in-chief, took a subtle yet hard line when speaking about Pakistan and its relations with the United States late Monday.



"Our commitment is not limited [and] our support is not a blank cheque," he said, indicating that Pakistan should take a stronger line against possible terrorist elements being provided “safe havens” in the country.

Trump also cleared the way for the deployment of thousands more US troops to Afghanistan, backtracking from his promise to rapidly end America´s longest war.

Rehman Malik

Senior PPP leader Senator Rehman Malik, in a reaction to Donald Trump’s statement said: “Our delegation should go to the UNO to bring to its attention, Donald Trump’s threat.”

Lashing out at the ruling party, Malik said that both India and Afghanistan have given their point of views but Pakistan is yet to issue a statement.

“The Prime Minister along with his team should send delegations wherever they need to be sent to resolve this,” the MNA said.

Shahi Saeed

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Shahi Syed, in response to the latest development in the international political arena reiterated on supporting Pakistan in every way.

“We have to support our institutions so that Trump won’t be able to issue threat to a stronger, united Pakistan,” Syed said.

Rahimullah Yusufzai

Renowned analyst on Afghan affairs Rahimullah Yusufzai, in a comment on the United State's new Afghan policy, said it is 'equivalent to a threat to Pakistan.'

He further added that frequent statements from the US stating that Pakistan is home to terrorists is a 'clear message.'

"India will play a bigger role in Afghanistan," Yusufzai said.

Adil Najam

Discussing the changing situation in the international political arena, the Washington-based expert on Pak-US relations, Adil Najam, said: "It is a matter of few days that Pakistan's aid may be stopped, decreased or conditions can be revised."

Najam added that India may increase diplomatic pressure on Pakistan as a result of the new policy.







