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Pakistani government accused of being puppet for Washington
Islamabad, May 12: A Pakistani opposition leader today accused the government of being puppets for the United States government, its key war-on-terror ally.
Islamabad, May 12: A Pakistani opposition leader today accused the government of being puppets for the United States government, its key war-on-terror ally.
Cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan, head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or movement for justice party criticized the government of going too far in its support of Washington.
''One of our government leaders has wished US President Bush re-election when the entire Muslim world is against him,'' he told reporters while referring to the reported inhuman treatment of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of American troops.
Khan was alluding to a recent interview by Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali who wished Bush well in the next American presidential polls.
''It proved that we are being ruled by the puppets who are out to appease Washington even at the cost of national aspirations,'' he added.
His remarks come as the US assistant secretary of state for South Asia Christina Rocca is visiting Pakistan for talks that include the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rocca met foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri on Wednesday and will also call on President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali.
Khan, who captained the Pakistani team that lifted the World Cup in 1992, said ''it is because of such an attitude (of the government) that has encouraged the United States to do what it is doing in Afghanistan and Iraq''.
Washington had also been requesting Pakistan contribute its peacekeeping troops to Iraq but Islamabad says it will do so only as part of a United Nations force.
Pakistan provided the critical intelligence and logistic support that helped the US topple the radical Taliban regime in 2001, which is accused of hosting Osama Bin Laden and his associates. It has so far captured and handed over to the us more then 500 al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives.
Bureau Report
''One of our government leaders has wished US President Bush re-election when the entire Muslim world is against him,'' he told reporters while referring to the reported inhuman treatment of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of American troops.
Khan was alluding to a recent interview by Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali who wished Bush well in the next American presidential polls.
''It proved that we are being ruled by the puppets who are out to appease Washington even at the cost of national aspirations,'' he added.
His remarks come as the US assistant secretary of state for South Asia Christina Rocca is visiting Pakistan for talks that include the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rocca met foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri on Wednesday and will also call on President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali.
Khan, who captained the Pakistani team that lifted the World Cup in 1992, said ''it is because of such an attitude (of the government) that has encouraged the United States to do what it is doing in Afghanistan and Iraq''.
Washington had also been requesting Pakistan contribute its peacekeeping troops to Iraq but Islamabad says it will do so only as part of a United Nations force.
Pakistan provided the critical intelligence and logistic support that helped the US topple the radical Taliban regime in 2001, which is accused of hosting Osama Bin Laden and his associates. It has so far captured and handed over to the us more then 500 al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives.
Bureau Report