“We have decided, for the future of our country — forget the outside pressure — we will not allow armed militias to operate anymore,” he said.

He acknowledged that “the Pakistan Army created them,” referring to the 1980s, when Pakistan and the U.S. backed Muslim insurgents in Afghanistan against Soviet forces.

Backdrop: An international watchdog group, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, is on the brink of blacklisting and leveling sanctions against Pakistan over the militias, which would make it more difficult for the country to obtain financial bailouts and loans.

On India: Mr. Khan expressed concerns over the shift toward Hindu nationalism and surging anti-Muslim crimes under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party.

(India’s general elections begin tomorrow and proceed in phases until May 19. Results will be announced on May 23. Follow our coverage of the election here and in this Briefing.)