Imran Khan paints Pakistan as victim of US ungratefulness

Gulf Today Report

Prime Minister Imran Khan sought to cast Pakistan as the victim of American ungratefulness and an international double standard in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

"For the current situation in Afghanistan, for some reason, Pakistan has been blamed for the turn of events, by politicians in the United States and some politicians in Europe,” Khan said. "From this platform, I want them all to know, the country that suffered the most, apart from Afghanistan, was Pakistan when we joined the US war on terror after 9/11.”

READ MORE

UNSC permanent members united on 'stable' Afghanistan, says Guterres

Pakistan FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi details Taliban plan

He launched into a narrative that began with the United States and Pakistan training mujahedeen - regarded as heroes by the likes of then-President Ronald Reagan, he said — during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. But Pakistan was left to pick up the pieces — millions of refugees and new sectarian militant groups — when the Soviets and the Americans left in 1989.

Khan said the US sanctioned its former partner a year later, but then came calling again after the 9/11 attacks. Khan said Pakistan's aid to the US cost 80,000 Pakistani lives and caused internal strife and dissent directed at the state, all while the US conducted drone attacks.

Imran Khan remotely addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. AP

"So, when we hear this at the end. There is a lot of worry in the US about taking care of the interpreters and everyone who helped the US,” he said, referring to Afghanistan. "What about us?”

Instead of a mere "word of appreciation,” Pakistan has received blame, Khan said.

Pakistani Prime Minister also accused his rival nation of launching a "reign of terror" on Muslims, drawing a stern rebuke.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Speaking on the day Modi was visiting the White House, Khan — who has yet to speak to President Joe Biden — alleged that commercial interests with billion-plus India were allowing it to "get away with human rights abuses with complete impunity." Despite Khan's rhetoric espousing a desire for peace, many Afghans have blamed Pakistan for the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan because of close links. The United Nations in August also rejected Pakistan's request to give its side at a special meeting on Afghanistan, indicating the international community's shared scepticism.