PM Imran Khan says a ‘very powerful country’ while becoming angry said why I visited Russia
ISLAMABAD, April 01 (SABAH): Prime Minister Imran Khan says a “very powerful country” while becoming angry said why I visited Russia, adding that this is being said to a country why you visited Russia and have become annoyed. Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated India for always towing independent foreign policy formed for its own people, adding that they protect their independent foreign policy.
Addressing the Islamabad Security Dialogue on Friday, PM Imran Khan said that the “powerful country” is fully supporting its ally, India, which its ally in quad. He said that not only India is neutral in matter of Russia but also importing oil from it when the effort is being made to impose sanctions to pressurize Russia. “Today, I read the statement of the British Foreign Secretary that mentioned that they cannot say anything to India as it is an independent country, then what we are. I do not actually blame then, this is our mistake,” he said.
Taking a jibe at the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, he said: “Those who are preparing to get to the Prime Minister’s Office are giving interviews that my statements will piss off America and Pakistan cannot survive without its support.”
He further accused the Opposition, saying that these leaders have sacrificed Pakistan’s economy and humiliated the country in the world because of their benefits.
PM Imran Khan said the decisions of previous politicians have led to a situation wherein no foreign country respects Pakistan. “They order us. They say that if the no-confidence motion does not become successful, there will be consequences for Pakistan.”
He stressed that inclusive prosperity, rule of law and an independent foreign policy are key elements for the national security of any country.
The premier said that unequal development, the increasing gap between the rich and poor and capture of resources by a handful of elite class make a country vulnerable.
He emphasised that society becomes secure and successful when it looks after the weak segments and ensures rule of law.
PM Imran Khan said that without an independent foreign policy, the country cannot protect the interests of its people.
He pointed out that the present government has pursued an independent foreign policy and did not become part of “bloc politics to achieve the same objectives”. As a result of this, he said Pakistan has received a lot of respect and recognition at the international level over the last three-and-a-half years.
Highlighting the steps taken by his government, PM Imran Khan said: “We have introduced a universal health insurance scheme under which the poor people can also get medical treatment at private hospitals.”
He said our social protection programmes are aimed at uplifting the disadvantaged segments of society. “Our struggle for rule of law is critical and our success in it will take the country forward,” he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed that inclusive prosperity, rule of law and an independent foreign policy are the key elements for the national security of any country. He said unequal development, increasing gap between the rich and the poor and capture of resources by a handful elite class make a country vulnerable.
He emphasized that society becomes secure and successful when it looks after the weak segments of the society and ensures rule of law. The Prime Minister said that without an independent foreign policy, the country cannot protect the interests of its people.
He pointed out that the present government has pursued an independent foreign policy and did not become part of bloc politics to achieve the same objectives. As a result of this, he said Pakistan has received a lot of respect and recognition at the international level over the last three and a half years.
Alluding to the threatening document received by his government, he said nobody should interfere in the internal matters of other countries in such a manner. He said it is because of our weaknesses and flawed policies of the past that such a thing has happened.
He said Pakistan has paid a heavy price by becoming part of conflicts in the past. He said we compromised the interests of our people because of the aid we received from other countries.
The Prime Minister said he envisages Pakistan a welfare state where there will be rule of law and an independent policy.
Highlighting the steps taken by his government, Imran Khan said we have introduced a universal health insurance scheme under which the poor people can also get medical treatment at private hospitals. He said our social protection programs are aimed at uplifting the disadvantaged segments of the society.
He said our struggle for rule of law is critical and our success in it will take the country forward.
Talking about the Afghan ‘jihad’, the prime minister said that Pakistan had never evaluated what it had lost and what it had gained through its participation.
“We never evaluated whether we got involved in order to help the Afghan people or whether it was for obtaining foreign aid,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s losses far outweighed the foreign aid that was given.
He went on to say that after 9/11, Pakistan changed its stance on resistance against foreign occupation terming it as “terrorism”.
“We violated our own principles,” he said, noting the economic devastation and labeling of Pakistan that followed soon after.
“We sacrificed our own country for the benefit of another. That is why I believe that a country without an independent foreign policy does not have any respect in the world and cannot protect the interests of its people.”
He went on to say that the objective of the PTI government was to draft an independent foreign policy and to stop the country from becoming part of a particular camp. “We tried to keep our foreign policy independent, one that is only affected by what is good for Pakistan’s 220 million people,” he said, adding that the country had never received the amount of international respect given during the last three-and-a-half years.
Earlier in his remarks, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said our national security policy focuses on peace, cooperation and economy. He said we want cooperation with all the countries.
The National Security Adviser said that best experts from around the world as well as intellectuals and cabinet members are attending the security dialogue.
The two-day dialogue will bring together Pakistani and international policy experts to discuss emerging challenges in international security under the theme “Comprehensive Security: Reimagining International Cooperation”.
The Islamabad Security Dialogue is hosting 17 international speakers from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, European Union, Japan, Philippines and others.