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We are not your hired gun anymore, Pak PM Khan tells United States

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, in an interview to the Washington Post  has said that they are not the ‘hired gun of US anymore.’

Khan, in the interview said that he wanted a ‘proper relationship with the US’ akin to Islamabad’s ties with China rather than the one ‘where Pakistan is treated like a hired gun.’

“I would never want to have a relationship where Pakistan is treated like a hired gun — given money to fight someone else’s war. It not only cost us human lives, devastation of our tribal areas, but it also cost us our dignity.”

When asked to elaborate on the ideal nature of relationship that he would like to have with Washington, Khan added: “For instance, our relationship with China is not one-dimensional. It’s a trade relationship between two countries. We want a similar relationship with the US.”

He rejected the notion that he is “anti-US”, saying that disagreeing with Washington’s policies did not make him “anti-American”.

“This is a very imperialistic approach. ‘You’re either with me or against me’,” he said.

When asked if he wanted relations between Pakistan and the US to “warm up”, the prime minister responded: “Who would not want to be friends with a superpower?”

The premier, however, stuck to his anti-drone attacks stance and wondered why anyone would support it. “Who would allow a drone attack in their country when, with one attack, you kill one terrorist and 10 friends and neighbours?” he questioned. “Has there ever been a case of a country being bombed by its own ally? Of course I objected to it. All it did was create more anti-Americanism.”

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