ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has clarified his remarks on sexual abuse that it was taken out of context while there is no doubt that the perpetrator is the real culprit of the crime.
According to details, Prime Minister Imran Khan in an interview with an American news channel said that the main purpose of the veil in Islam is to prevent exploitation in society. “The veil is not just about clothing and it is not just about women. The veil is for both men and women,” the prime minister asserted.
Talking about cases related to sexual harassment in the West, PM Imran Khan said that the rate of sexual abuse in Pakistan is much lower than in Western countries. “Women are highly respected in all Muslim countries, including Pakistan,” he maintained.
While talking about Afghanistan, PM Khan said that political settlement was the only solution to the Afghan problem. “There is no military solution. Pakistan can no longer bear the burden of Afghan refugees. The United States has failed to find a military solution to the Afghan problem and our country is a facilitator of peace,” he added.
Referring to 9/11, the prime minister said that after this incident, we sided with the United States, which led to an increase in suicide attacks in Pakistan. “In Afghanistan, the United States and NATO have lost the ability to negotiate. The Taliban are advancing in our neighboring country,” PM Khan further added.
Regarding the new Afghan government, PM Khan said that there should be a government in Afghanistan that is acceptable to all parties. “If the election had been delayed, the Taliban could have been part of it. Ashraf Ghani has not held talks with the Taliban since becoming president,” he maintained.
On the issue of providing military bases, the prime minister said that if the United States was given bases, Pakistan would become a target of terrorism. “The Taliban see themselves as conquerors in Afghanistan. US aid is far less than Pakistan’s loss. Supporting the United States was a great loss to us,” he asserted.
Referring to the war on terror, he said that supporting the United States in this war cost us $150 billion. Pakistan sacrificed 70,000 lives in the fight against terrorism.
During the interview, PM Imran Khan said that his statement against the military solution was considered anti-American and pro-Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has been blamed for its failure in Afghanistan. “We are partners in peace, we will not be part of any conflict,” he added.
He said that Afghanistan should first call back its refugees and then seek a response from Pakistan. “Negotiations with the Taliban should have taken place when 1.5 million NATO troops were in Afghanistan. Now it is difficult to force a political solution on the Taliban who consider themselves victors,” he further added.
On resolving the Afghan issue, the prime minister said that Pakistan could do nothing more than push for a political solution. “We want peace in Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of all countries in the region, including the country,” he maintained
