Pakistan is seeking a “civilised” and “even-handed” relationship with the United States, similar to the one that exists between the United States and the United Kingdom or with India “right now,” Prime Minister Imran Khan stated, highlighting the role Islamabad could play in the region, especially in Afghanistan after the United States bows out of the war-torn nation.

In the interview, which comes as US President Joe Biden met with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani for the first time at the White House on Friday, Khan recounted that Pakistan had a better relationship with the US than other countries in the region, such as India, and had been a US partner in the war on terrorism, according to the Dawn newspaper.

“Now, after the US leaves Afghanistan, basically Pakistan would want a civilised relationship, which you have between nations, and we would like to improve our trading relationship with the US,” he said.

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When asked to expand on his notion of a civilised relationship, Khan stated that he was looking for relationships similar to those that existed in the past “between the US and Britain, or between US and India right now. So, a relationship which is even-handed”.

“It was a lopsided relationship because the US felt that they were giving aid to Pakistan, they felt that Pakistan then had to do US’ bidding. And what Pakistan did in terms of trying to do the US bidding cost Pakistan a lot … 70,000 Pakistanis died, and over $150 billion were lost to the economy because there were suicide bombings and bombs going on all over the country,” he added.

The primary issue with this imbalanced relationship was that “Pakistani governments tried to deliver what they were not capable of,” and it created “mistrust between the two countries,” according to Khan.

“And people in Pakistan felt they paid a heavy, heavy price for this relationship. And the US thought Pakistan had not done enough,” Khan added.

According to the prime minister, his administration wants the future relationship to be built on trust and shared goals, such as a safe and harmonious Afghanistan.

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Following numerous rounds of negotiations, the US and the Taliban struck a momentous agreement in Doha on February 29, 2020, to bring permanent peace to war-torn Afghanistan and let US soldiers return home, thereby ending America’s longest conflict.

When asked if Pakistan will retain any strategic importance for the US after the departure, Khan responded: “I don’t know, really. I haven’t thought about it in that way, that Pakistan should have some strategic relevance to the US.” Khan stated that he could not anticipate the future of Pakistan’s military and security ties with the United States.

“Post the US withdrawal, I don’t know what sort of military relationship it will be. But right now, the relationship should be based on this common objective that there is a political solution in Afghanistan before the United States leaves,” he stressed.

“Pakistan has used the maximum leverage it could on the Taliban,” Khan said when asked whether Pakistan was still utilising its clout with the Taliban to drive the peace negotiations toward a conclusion. He said that the United States’ decision to set a deadline for removing its troops from Afghanistan weakened Pakistan’s bargaining power with the Taliban.

“Given that the US gave a date of withdrawal, from then onward, our leverage diminished on the Taliban. And the reason is that the moment the United States gave a date of exit, the Taliban basically claimed victory,” Khan said.

“They’re thinking that they won the war. And so, therefore, our ability to influence them diminishes the stronger they feel.” According to Khan, Pakistan has been emphasising to the Taliban that pursuing a military triumph will only result in a lengthy civil war.

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Khan further claimed in the interview that if India had a different administration, the two countries would have had a better relationship and would have addressed all of their issues via bilateral conversations.

“When I assumed office, the first thing I did was I made this approach to Prime Minister Modi (to seek) a normal, civilised trading relationship…We tried but didn’t get anywhere,” he said.

“Had there been another Indian leadership, I think we would have had a good relationship with them. And yes, we would have resolved all our differences through dialogue,” Khan claimed.

In August 2019, India announced the withdrawal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the partition of the state into two union territories, significantly straining relations between the two countries.

Regarding the status quo in Kashmir, Khan stated, “I think it’s a disaster for India because it will just mean that this conflict festers on and on … and (prevents) any relationship — normal relationship — between Pakistan and India.” India has expressed its willingness towards having good neighbourly ties with Pakistan in an atmosphere devoid of terror, animosity, and bloodshed.

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Khan said that the United States’ expectation that India would act as a bulwark against China was incorrect. “I think it would be detrimental for India because India’s trade with China is going to be beneficial for both India and China.” Pakistan is “watching the scenario unfold with a bit of anxiety,” he added.