Pakistan used like 'hired gun' by US in war against terror: Imran Khan

Former premier Imran Khan has lamented that the US has been using Pakistan like a hired gun in the war against terror and Americas ties with his country are very undignified as compared to a very civilised relationship with IndiaHis comments came days after Khan signalled his readiness to mend ties with the United States after repeatedly accusing Washington of conspiring to remove him from power in AprilWhen asked by Public Broadcasting Service an American public broadcaster about his recent Uturn and his past remarks that America treats Pakistan like a slave Khan said Firstly I mean it is just a fact that the PakistanUS relationship has been lopsidedIt is not for instance the USIndia relationship which I call a very civilised relationship a dignified relationship In Pakistan we have been well the war on terror we were like a hired gun And I think it is a very undignified relationship he saidKhan 70 who was ousted in April in a noconfidence vote in an interview with the Financial Times this month said he wants to mend relations with the US if reelected and no longer blames it for his removal as Pakistan prime ministerWhen asked if he believes he could have a good working relationship with the United States Khan said The United States is a democracy Democracies accept criticism Democracies accept other peoples point of view Master slaves dontPakistans relationship with the US is very important for us So just because of the regime change it shouldnt mean that I should not have a future relationship with the US And yes I have my right to criticise he addedAlso Read Criminal proceedings initiated against Imran Khan in Toshakhana caseKhan earlier had been claiming that he was the result of a conspiracy between prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and the US a top security partner to Pakistan that has provided the country with billions of dollars in military aidKhan has repeatedly claimed that Donald Lu the top American official dealing with South Asia in the US State Department was involved in a foreign conspiracy to topple his governmentKhan the chairman of the Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI party suffered bullet injuries in the right leg earlier this month when two gunmen fired a volley of bullets at him and others standing on a containermounted truck in the Wazirabad area where he was leading the march against the government to press for snap electionsHe has blamed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal Naseer for hatching a plot to assassinate himWell I was very lucky I had three bullets in my right leg and some shrapnel in my left he saidSo the two the flesh wounds are healing well But the bone where my bone got cracked by the third bullet thats causing me a bit of discomfort But I expect in the next two three weeks I should be walking putting weight on my leg Khan saidGeneral elections must be held in Pakistan less than 60 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly which is set to dissolve in August next yearWhen asked about his protest march against the government and why is his party pressing for an early election Khan said We talk about the injustice that is taking place in this country where these this cabal of crooks have been foisted on us And secondly the economy has gone to the ground Financial markets outside Pakistan and within the country have lost confidence in this governmentAnd all the economic indicators are going down So if they dont hold elections immediately it doesnt bother my party because we are gaining all the time But our worry is that they will leave the country in a state where it will be beyond anyones control he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever