Pakistan PM Tells US: We’re Not Your ‘Hired Gun’ Anymore

Khan says Pakistan won't fight someone else's war

In an interview with the Washington Post, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said they he wants a “proper relationship” with the United States, and that Pakistan will no longer be treated like “a hired gun” who fights someone else’s war.

Khan said in his view, the US has been pushing Pakistan away throughout the Afghan War. He also rejected the interviewer’s suggestion that he is “anti-American” because of his positions, and denied that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban.

That seemed to be a sticking point throughout the interview, as Khan reiterated that Pakistan is not setting up “sanctuaries” for the Taliban nor directly aiding them, but was repeatedly pushed by the Washington Post to “cut it out.”

The Washington Post further declared him “very anti-US” because of his opposition to US drone strikes in Pakistan. Khan said this is an imperialistic approach that “you’re either with me or against me.”

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.