It's my duty to engage everyone,"however extreme they be/You can't resolve issues with guns. It's in the interest of India, too.". says Imran Khan

It's my duty to engage everyone, says Imran Khan




Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf party leader Imran Khan has justified his association with Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the key conspirator for the Mumbai attack, saying it was his duty to engage everyone, "however extreme they be". In the same breath, he said it was "only an allegation" against Saeed so far.

"As a politician, I have to engage everyone, however extreme they are. You can't resolve issues with guns. It's in the interest of India, too. If Hafiz Saeed is killed, he will become a martyr," Imran said in an exclusive interview to Rahul Kanwal for Khaas Mullaqat on Aaj Tak.

The Pakistan cricketing legend, whose Tehreek-e-Insaf is hoping to wrest power in the country, was speaking in the context of an earlier invitation for him to share the stage with Saeed at a JuD-organised convention, where the speakers spewed venom against India.

Reminded that Saeed was believed to be the man who had plotted the 26/ 11 attack, Imran said it was only an allegation.

"Can we convict people merely on the basis of the evidence that India provides? There's a due process of law. Let Pakistan's Supreme Court decide (on his guilt)." On his agenda after coming to power, Imran said he could "fully assure" that he would work towards peace with India.

"Mine will be a genuine leadership... with the authority to rule Pakistan. I will take big decisions. Pakistan will have such leaders but will India reciprocate? It's time to deal with all our differences, including Kashmir. This cloak-and-dagger policy has to end. You can't keep on raising the Kashmir issue and Pakistan can't keep bringing up Balochistan. If we have a civilised relationship, it will help both the peoples," he said.

He expressed confidence that the military would never rule Pakistan again.

"After Musharraf's rule, our people have realised that he left Pakistan in the worst condition the country has ever been in. Musharraf instituted the NRO, which gave the corrupt Zardari protection. There is a consensus against military rule in Pakistan today."

On whether he could eliminate the terror camps operating on Pakistan's soil, he said: "I am a politician. I have no idea if there are terror camps operating in Pakistan. Let me come to power, then I'll have all the details."

Imran, who was in the city on Monday to address a session at the Kolkata Literary Meet, said the Kashmir issue can't be solved unilaterally. "There is only one issue between Pakistan and India and that is Kashmir. This issue has to be resolved in a civilised manner," he said.

Imran said the two countries needed strong leaders who could take big decisions, but lamented that there were no such leaders, either in India or in Pakistan.

He, however, expressed hope that the "new generation in both the countries will change things".

-With inputs from Soudhriti Bhabani