Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has called on US President Donald Trump to restart peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, and said Washington has a “duty” to calm the Kashmir standoff with India.
“Stability in Afghanistan means stability in Pakistan,” Khan said on September 23 at the start of his meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump said it was “ridiculous” that the United States had been fighting in Afghanistan for 18 years, but he made no promises about restarting negotiations with the Taliban, saying,” We’ll see.”
Prior to his meeting with Trump, Imran Khan told a gathering that there was no military solution to resolve the Afghanistan issue.
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Monday, Khan delivered a message to Trump, saying “Look, there is not going to be a military solution. For 19 years if you have not been able to succeed, you’re not going to be able to succeed in another 19 years.”
Khan further added Islamabad had played its role in facilitating talks between the US and the Taliban group to help bring peace to Afghanistan, emphasizing that he wants the US to resume talks with the group.
Earlier this month, Trump abruptly cancelled negotiations with the militant group aimed at ending the United States’ longest war, following nine rounds of talks between US and Taliban negotiators in Qatar.
In New York, Khan also urged Trump to use US influence to help end India’s “siege” of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
New Delhi has placed the Indian-administered part of Kashmir under a military clampdown, restricting many basic freedoms.
“The most powerful country in the world has a responsibility,” the Pakistani prime minister said, warning that the “crisis is going to get much bigger.”
Trump said he would be willing to mediate between India and Pakistan if both countries asked for this.
“If I can help, I’d like to help,” he said.
Trump is to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York later this week.
