Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the US "really messed it up in Afghanistan" saying that the only good solution for the country is an inclusive political settlement.
In an interview with a US media outlet, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the premier said that the Afghan government that includes all sorts of different factions will be the best outcome.
PM Imran said there is no other outcome as the military solution has failed.
“From Pakistan's point of view, a protracted civil war in Afghanistan will be a worst case scenario,” the prime minister said, adding that Pakistan is already hosting over three million Afghan refugees and we fear the civil war will bring more refugees to Pakistan.
“Our economic situation is not such that we can have another influx”.
The prime minister explained that the Taliban were ethnic Pashtuns and “if this [civil war and violence in Afghanistan] goes on, the Pashtuns on our side will be drawn into it.”
“That … is the last thing we want,” he said.
Reaffirming support to the Afghan peace process, the premier made it clear that Pakistan want to be a partner in peace but not in conflict.
Imran Khan recalled that Pakistan was devastated by joining the US war on terrorism. He said seventy thousand Pakistani people died in this war and the economy suffered losses to the tune of $150 billion.
He said the aid provided to Pakistan was minuscule compared to the amount of money the country lost in the economy. He regretted that Pakistan still is blamed for the failure in Afghanistan.
The prime minister said the US really messed up in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan's position is very straightforward. “We want to help and we have helped getting the Taliban to talk to the US. We have done our bit.
Responding to a question, the PM said his comments on rape were taken out of context and said that anyone who commits rape is solely responsible for the crime.
Responding on whether the importance of Islam in the South Asian country stops him from taking a stronger stance against women.
The premier said “Absolutely not. Islam gives dignity and respect to women, he also justified his stance saying that he found that women are treated with more respect in Muslim countries.
“I used the word Pardah during my interview and added that Pardah brings the temptation down”, he said that "Pardah is not restricted to women but it is for men as well”.
Comparing the sexual assault cases with the rest of the world, he said look at the situation in Pakistan even now, I mean look at the rape cases here, compared to Western countries, they are minuscule, Khan opined.
In June, after an interview with with Axios's Johnathan Swan, PM Imran Khan's came under fire for his reaction to the rising cases of sexual violence in Pakistan.
