Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday offered to mediate between militants and the government for restoring peace in the region. He said that news of the US contacts with the Taliban to ultimately “broker a peace deal” was a clear vindication of the PTI’s position. In a press statement, Khan said he had offered to mediate between the militants and the government of Pakistan two years ago with an objective to bring peace in the area torn area, but the government did not pay attention to his offer. “I again offer to mediate between the militants and the government if the ruling clique exhibits its seriousness on the matter,” he said.
Khan said the policy of continuing military action in the Tribal Areas had only bred more violence and terrorism, causing immense pain and misery to hundreds of thousands of people in the region. He referred to the recently released Pakistan’s Economic Survey 2010-2011 according to which the country had never witnessed such devastating social and economic affects on its industry, even after dismemberment of the country by direct war. He said $20 billion had been received in aid from the US, while $67.93 billion had been lost by the economy because of the so-called “war on terror”.
The PTI chief said 35,000 people, most of them innocent civilians and 3,500 security personnel had lost their lives in the war, adding that one million people had become internally displaced, while another six million people had been affected in the war-ravaged belt. He said the institution of the armed forces had been severely damaged as a result of launching military operations. “That is why Pakistan’s enemies called the country a failed state and demanded the initiation of radical steps for securing its strategic assets,” Khan said.
