'I haven't met CIA chief, Pakistan won't allow its soil to be used for Afghan missions: PM Imran

The premier made these remarks to reply the question of  journalist Jonathan Swan of Axios on HBO that was about the recent visit of CIA Director William Burns to Pakistan.

“Would you allow the American government to have CIA here in Pakistan to conduct cross-border counterterrorism missions against Al-Qaeda, ISIS or the Taliban?” asked Swan.

“Absolutely not. There is no way we are going to allow any bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not,” PM Imran replied.

"Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties, more than any other country by joining the American war. We cannot afford anymore military actions from our territory. We will be partners in peace, not in conflict."

Asked whether Pakistan would allow the US Air Force to use its airspace for air strikes against the Taliban, the premier reiterated that Pakistan "would not be a part of any conflict".

When pushed for an answer, he replied that it had not been discussed. "Why would the Americans bomb Afghanistan when it hasn't worked for 20 years?"

Imran Khan told the questionare that he had yet not spoken to US President Joe Biden since the Democrat assumed office.

"Is there a reason for that?" asked Swan. "Whenever he has time he can speak to me. At the moment, clearly, he has other priorities," replied PM Imran.

When the interviewer asked what he would discuss with Biden, the premier said, "If the Americans have the resolve and the will, the Kashmir issue can be sorted out."

PM on Uighur Muslims in China

When asked why he was so outspoken about Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Uighur Muslims in China, the premier said all issues were discussed with China "behind closed doors".

Imran Khan said China has been one of the greatest friends to Pakistan in our most difficult times. "When we were really struggling, China came to our rescue. We respect the way they are and whatever issues we have, we speak behind closed doors."

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan asks @jonathanvswan why the West focuses on the genocide of Muslims in China's Xinjiang province and not the atrocities in Kashmir.

Khan: "Why are the people of Kashmir ignored? It is much more relevant.” #AxiosOnHBO pic.twitter.com/jTeXrKKEgv

— Axios (@axios) June 21, 2021

"I look around the world what's happening in Palestine, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan. Am I going to start talking about everything? I concentrate on what is happening on my border, in my country."

The premier questioned why this was such a big issue in the Western world when the people of occupied Kashmir were being ignored. "It is much more relevant. Compared to what may be going on with the Uighurs, 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed," he said, adding that the occupied valley had been turned into an "open prison".