Pakistan has no leverage on Taliban except to woo them for talks: PM

Pakistan has no leverage on Taliban except to woo them for talks to avoid civil war in their country, says Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He expressed these views, while speaking in the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister underscored peace in Afghanistan important for Pakistan to build economic linkages with the Central Asian states.

Pakistan has no leverage on Taliban except to woo them for talks

He further said the heavy human and material loss suffered by Pakistan in the war against terrorism has not been recognized in true sense at the international level.

The PM also condemned the drone attacks the US carried out in tribal areas in the past.

He said the US realized about no military solution to the Afghan conflict. Now U.S. has now given an exit date from Afghanistan and is asking Pakistan to woo the Taliban for talks.

However, he said Pakistan has no leverage on the Taliban except that it can only ask them to hold negotiations to avoid civil war in their country.

Furthermore, he said we neither want any strategic depth nor do we have any favorites or parties in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister emphatically made it clear that Islamabad will only be a partner in peace, not in war, with the United States.

He also said categorically that Pakistan not to make any compromise over its sovereignty for the sake of any other country.

Initiatives in different sectors

Moreover, the PM said the government is taking initiatives in different sectors to take the economy towards export led growth.

The sectors include: agriculture, livestock and small and medium enterprises

Imran Khan said the SME sector is being incentivized to generate economic activity and provide job opportunities to the youth.

He further said that govt earmarked Rs 60 billion in the federal budget for the uplift of agriculture sector.

Besides, it made tax exemptions of Rs 100 billion to enhance the productivity and ensure food security.

The Prime Minister said government allocated Rs500 billion to uplift the weakest segments of the society.

He said under this program, govt will give interest free loans to 4 to 5 million households, besides health card and technical training.

People honestly pay their taxes

The Prime Minister appealed the people to honestly pay their taxes to take forward the country on the economic front.

He urged the Overseas Pakistanis to invest in different sectors of the economy.

Moreover, he also assured them that the obstacles in the way of their investments will be removed.

The PM said, bringing the powerful people under the ambit of law is important to exploit the country’s true potential.

Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan invited the Opposition parties to sit with the government for talks on electoral reforms.

He underlined it important for the future of democracy in the country.

GTV