American Ambassador Cameron Munter has either misunderstood or misquoted my discussion with him regarding Pak-US relations, said Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan.
Speaking to reporters at the Karachi airport as he arrived in the city for a two day visit, Mr Khan said that PTI is neither pro- nor anti- the United States. It takes a position based on its policies. Thus, the party has consistently opposed the American war in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s partnership in it. Mr Khan further added that events had proven the party’s stand to be correct as Pakistan had suffered immensely after associating with the United States and providing it help in the Afghan war. The country became the target of a wave of terrorism in which over 35,000 people lost their lives and the Pakistan economy suffered a loss of an estimated 71 billion dollars.
But the Chairman PTI said that this position against Pakistan’s participation in the war on terror taken in Pakistan’s national interest does not mean that the party is anti-America. Talking to the American Ambassador in this regard, Mr Khan had said that the party would react to US policies that it disagreed with but would seek to build an enduring relationship with it based on shared interests and mutual respect. Mr Khan said that it was this particular part of the interaction that had been highlighted by the media and not the fact that he had candidly told the American Ambassador that the party cannot support the reopening of NATO supplies or any other activity that furthers the American war effort in Afghanistan.
The ambassador didn’t get it!
