Khan: US 'sooner or later' must recognise Taliban

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that the United States government will "sooner or later" have to recognise the Taliban.

In a televised interview with the Turkish-state affiliated TRT World, Khan said that the U.S is in a state of "shock and confusion" after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Khan also stated that the U.S public is currently looking for a scapegoat and "unfairly targeting" the U.S President Joe Biden.

He stressed that if the U.S does not unfreeze the Afghan reserves, the country could face a "chaotic situation" and that the U.S has to come up with a solution.

When Khan was asked if he was "pro-Taliban", he responded that he is "anti-military solutions" and that the only way to solve the conflict in Afghanistan is through peaceful means.

Khan went on to say that Pakistan alone recognising Taliban wouldn't "make much difference" but a joint recognition of regional powers and neighbours would be a better solution.

During the interview Khan revealed that his government is currently in peace talks with some of the groups within the Taliban Movement in Pakistan (TTP), and he further revealed that the talks are being held in Afghanistan and if reconciliation is achieved, members of the organisation would be "forgiven".

Khan said the concern on human rights abuses should not be "selective" in the international community and that the lockdown of Kashmir by the Indian military should also be addressed.

IMAGE: AP