Consensus reached with military on most issues, says PM

—-Abbasi says sentences are handed down on basis of evidence and not mere assumptions

—-Says allies should not communicate with each other through tweets

—-Says Afghans have to sit down and hold talks to find a peaceful solution to Afghan conflict

Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Monday that there was a lot of institutional friction between the civil-military leadership of Pakistan over the past one year, but after holding frank discussions, a consensus has been reached on most issues.

“There was a lot of friction institutionally that built up over the last year or so,” Abbasi said candidly during an interview with Bloomberg, a New York-based international news agency.

“We have held some frank discussions and now there is a much better understanding between the civil-military leadership of Pakistan. Though it is still an evolving relationship, a consensus has been reached on most issues.”

The prime minister, while commenting on the ongoing trials against Nawaz Sharif, said that sentences were handed down on the basis of evidence and not mere assumptions. He said that he had seen the evidence and Nawaz Sharif was unlikely to be sentenced by the court.

Abbasi also said he had firm belief that the court would announce a verdict based on justice.

He further said that an anti-judiciary mindset was non-existent in his party, adding, “Everyone has to remain within the ambit of the constitution.”

Speaking of Tallal Chaudhry, the prime minister said if the minister had actually made wrong remarks against the constitution or the law, then it was unacceptable and he should apologise for his statement.

Abbasi, in an apparent reference to the Panama Papers case verdict, said that a decision was announced by the apex court against the will of the people, but the people did not accept the court verdict.

Speaking in connection with the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, the PM said that the decision regarding the nomination of a candidate for the post of the next prime minister would be taken at the central party meeting.

Commenting on the relations between Pakistan and the United States (US), he said that it was clearly conveyed to Washington that it should provide information and Pakistan would itself take action [against militants]. However, he made it clear that Pakistan would defend itself if attacked by a hostile force.

Noting that the two countries were partners in the war against terror, he said, “There should be mutual trust between allies and they should not communicate through tweets with each other.” He further added, “We were partners in the war against terror and we are partners today as well.”

The prime minister also voiced skepticism over US President Donald Trump’s announcement to increase troops in Afghanistan to assist the Afghan security forces and said that Islamabad was ready to help mediate talks with the Taliban.

He warned that little progress could be made in the ongoing efforts to end the long-running conflict in Afghanistan until all sides entered into peace talks. There was no military solution to the Afghan problem, he added. “At the end of the day, the Afghans have to sit down and talk,” PM Abbasi said in the interview.

Abbasi rejected charges that Pakistan had been selective in its fight against terrorism. Following an announcement last week that 27 Taliban and Haqqani network insurgents had been handed over to Afghanistan in November in what Abbasi described as a “routine” prisoner transfer, he said there was no evidence that Pakistan was backing militants fighting across the border after a spate of violence left hundreds dead and wounded in Kabul last month.

Despite Trump’s stance, Abbasi said talks and intelligence cooperation with the US were still ongoing and a growing relationship with China should not stop that. “They are not mutually exclusive relationships and nobody wants it that way either,” Abbasi said. “China is more of a long-term partner while the US is probably a transactional partner,” he added.