Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Pakistan hits out at America at UN over fallout of its ‘war on terror’

In a recorded speech to the UNGA, Imran Khan touched upon a range of topics that included climate crisis, Islamophob­ia and Afghanista­n

- Associated Press letters@hindustant­imes.com

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Imran Khan sought to cast Pakistan as the victim of American ungrateful­ness and internatio­nal double standards in his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday.

In a pre-recorded speech aired during the evening, the Pakistani prime minister touched upon a range of topics that included the climate crisis, global Islamophob­ia and “the plunder of the developing world by their corrupt elites” - the latter of which he likened to what the East India Company did to India.

The cricketer-turned-politician was indignant and plaintive as he painted the United States as a country that abandoned both Pakistan and neighbouri­ng Afghanista­n.

“For the current situation in Afghanista­n, for some reason, Pakistan has been blamed for the turn of events, by politician­s in the United States and some politician­s in Europe,” Khan said. “From this platform, I want them all to know, the country that suffered the most, apart from Afghanista­n, was Pakistan when we joined the US war on terror after 9/11 (the 2001 terror attacks in the US).”

He launched into a narrative that began with the US and Pakistan training “mujahedeen” regarded as heroes by the likes of then US president Ronald Reagan,

he said - during the Soviet occupation of Afghanista­n. But Pakistan was left to pick up the pieces - millions of refugees and new sectarian militant groups when the Soviets and the Americans left in 1989.

Khan said the US sanctioned its former partner a year later, but then came calling again after the 9/11 attacks. Khan said Pakistan’s help to the US cost 80,000 Pakistani lives and caused internal strife and dissent directed at the state, all while the US conducted drone attacks.

“So, when we hear this at the end. There is a lot of worry in the US about taking care of the interprete­rs and everyone who helped the US,” he said, referring to Afghanista­n. “What about us?” Instead of a “word of appreciati­on”, Pakistan has only received blame, Khan rued.

Myanmar won’t address, but Afghanista­n will

No representa­tive from Myanmar is scheduled to address the General Assembly, a UN spokesman said on Friday, amid rival claims for the country’s UN seat in New York after a military coup ousted the elected government.

Competing claims have also been made on Afghanista­n’s UN seat after the Taliban seized power last month. The ambassador for the ousted Afghan government is set to give his speech on Monday.

“At this point, Myanmar is not speaking,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Myanmar’s current UN ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun - appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s ousted government - had initially been expected to address the General Assembly on Monday.

But diplomats said China, Russia and the US had reached an understand­ing, where Moscow and Beijing will not object to Kyaw Moe Tun remaining in Myanmar’s UN seat for the moment as long as he does not speak during the meeting.

Dujarric said that “for now, the Afghanista­n representa­tive inscribed on the list for Monday is Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai”. Isaczai is the current United Nations ambassador, who represents Afghanista­n’s government that was recently ousted by the Taliban group.

 ?? REUTERS ?? Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob remotely addresses the UN General Assembly in New York City on Saturday.
REUTERS Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob remotely addresses the UN General Assembly in New York City on Saturday.

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