Chairman Imran Khans Press Statement (12th June, 2014) PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, today condemned US efforts to purchase the services of the Pakistan government to carry out a military operation in NWA. By linking military aid and CSF payments directly to an operation in NWA the US is using bribery for the PMLN government while seeking to discredit the Pakistan army. Khan pointed out that conducting such a military operation when most of the groups in NWA want talks is suicidal as it would result in the following: - 7 lakh people will be displaced. - Those groups who have delinked from the TTP and want dialogue will be turned against Pakistan and would lead to a uniting of militant forces again. - When the main groups in NWA are supportive of peace through dialogue, then the US-desired operation is clearly intended to turn these people against Pakistan. The Chairman, on behalf of PTI, put forward the following demands: The government must reject this US move and inform the national political leadership of the status of the dialogue mandated by the APC. The government must ensure that those seeking dialogue are separated from those continuing to carry out acts of terror and to isolate the latter so action can be taken against them. The Chairman reminded the nation and the government that suicide attacks in KPK had fallen to 12 from 25 the previous year, since PTI government took over and dialogue started. Khan also reminded that the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2013-2014 stated that the country sustained $6.7 billion losses in the outgoing fiscal year, which were $3.3 billion or 33% less than the losses sustained during the preceding year. This was a direct result of the drastic reduction in drone attacks and the commencement of dialogue. Khan emphasised that Pakistans state and government cannot continue to play the role of mercenaries for an US agenda. If a military operation is to be conducted, the government must first explain what happened to the dialogue. It must also ensure that all civilians are evacuated from the area of the operation. Finally and most critically it must separate the groups wanting dialogue from the hardened terrorists and act against the latter while protecting the former.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:53:38 +0000
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