Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan has said he can negotiate with the Taliban to end the “so-called war on terrorism” if he is given the mandate to do so.
“I can talk to them if the government and parties concerned sanction this and ask me to get involved. I am ready to talk to them in the best interest of the country because this war is burying Pakistan,” Khan told to Gulf News.
Reacting to a question about the Taliban’s move to open an office in Qatar, Khan said there was no harm in it as it was the first positive step towards holding talks with them.
“I told the world some eight years ago that there was no military solution to this problem as the only way out is to hold talks and settle it politically but at that time they called me ‘Taliban Khan’ but now they all agree with me as they could not win this so-called war on terrorism,” he said.
The PTI chief said it was important for Pakistan to get out of the US war on terrorism because the country had already suffered losses to the tune of $50 billion during the last 10 years leading to economic crisis, poverty and instability. “The sooner we get out of this war, the quicker Pakistan will get back on its feet,” he added. He said he could find a solution by talking to them because he knew the area and the people.
Khan strongly condemned the tabling of a bill earlier this month in the US House of Representatives calling upon Pakistan to recognise the right to self-determination for Balochistan.
Imran says can negotiate with Taliban if asked
