Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is a long-time critic of US military campaigns. Photo: Reuters
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is a long-time critic of US military campaigns. Photo: Reuters
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is a long-time critic of US military campaigns. Photo: Reuters
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is a long-time critic of US military campaigns. Photo: Reuters

Imran Khan says the US will have to recognise the Taliban ‘sooner or later’


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Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US government will have to recognise the Taliban “sooner or later”.

Mr Khan told a Turkish news channel that the US was in a state of “shock and confusion” after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

In a TV interview with state-affiliated TRT World, he said the US public is currently looking for a scapegoat and “unfairly targeting” President Joe Biden.

Mr Khan said that if the US does not unfreeze Afghan reserves, the country could face a “chaotic situation” and that the US has to come up with a solution.

When Mr Khan was asked if he was “pro-Taliban”, he responded that he is “anti-military solutions” and that the only way to solve the conflict in Afghanistan is through peaceful means.

“The big question is: when is the United States going to recognise them (the Taliban government)?” he said.

“Sooner or later they will have to. At the moment, as you can see in the Senate hearing, in the media, there is shock and confusion in the US.

"They are completely surprised by the outcome of, after 20 years, the Taliban coming back again. And (they are) finding scapegoats. I feel (they are) very unfairly targeting President Biden. I think it’s unfair, because what could he do?”

It comes after a senior US official called for Pakistan to take action against all extremist groups. The comments by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman came before a visit to Islamabad, which has sought reconciliation with militants at home and in Afghanistan.

Ms Sherman will meet officials in Pakistan on October 7 and 8.

Pakistan has long faced US accusations of playing a double game in Afghanistan where the Taliban swept back to power in August.

"We seek a strong partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism and we expect sustained action against all militant and terrorist groups without distinction," Ms Sherman said in Switzerland, her first stop on a trip that will also take her to India and Uzbekistan.

"Both of our countries have suffered terribly from the scourge of terrorism and we look forward to co-operative efforts to eliminate all regional and global terrorist threats.”

Pakistan points to its efforts against militants and the thousands who have died in attacks at home, but it has also faced criticism for not doing more to curb radicals that target neighbour and rival India.

I do not believe in military solutions
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan

Mr Khan, a long-time critic of US military campaigns, said he had opened talks with the Pakistan Taliban about laying down their arms.

"Some of the Pakistani Taliban groups actually want to talk to our government for some peace, for some reconciliation," he told TRT World.

He said the discussions were taking place in Afghanistan with sections of the movement, which has carried out deadly attacks for years.

"I repeat: I do not believe in military solutions," Mr Khan said.

He has encouraged the world to engage Afghanistan's Taliban and provide economic support, although he has stopped short of backing recognition – a step opposed by the US.

SUZUME
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Full Party in the Park line-up

2pm – Andreah

3pm – Supernovas

4.30pm – The Boxtones

5.30pm – Lighthouse Family

7pm – Step On DJs

8pm – Richard Ashcroft

9.30pm – Chris Wright

10pm – Fatboy Slim

11pm – Hollaphonic

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Panipat

Director Ashutosh Gowariker

Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment

Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman

Rating 3 /stars

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars 

BLACKBERRY
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David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Match info

Deccan Gladiators 87-8

Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16

Maratha Arabians 89-2

Chadwick Walton 51 not out

Arabians won the final by eight wickets

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Updated: October 03, 2021, 8:42 AM`