#Pakistan - Imran Khan says Pashtuns are Taliban-sympathisers, leaders react

 Imran Khan said three million Pashtuns are still there in Pakistan as refugees. ‘They do attack Pakistan,’ Imran Khan said drawing flak for spreading ‘misinformation about Pashtuns. 

Elaborating how Pakistan has suffered being caught between Afghanistan and the United States, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at his United Nations speech said the Pashtuns living in the semi-autonomous tribal belt along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border always had affinity and sympathy towards the Taliban.

"Pakistan and the United States trained Mujahideen groups to fight for the liberation of Afghanistan. Amongst those Mujahideen groups were al Qaeda, were various groups from all over the world..these were considered heroes," Imran Khan said."Come 1989, the Soviets leave. So do the Americans.. Pakistan was left with 5 million Afghan refugees. We were left with sectarian militant groups which never existed before. And a year later, Pakistan was sanctioned by the US. We felt used," Imran Khan said.

"Fast forward 9/11. Pakistan is needed again by the US because now they are invading Afghanistan and that can't happen with the logistical support of Pakistan. What happens after that? The same Mujahideen that we have trained that fighting for occupation was a sacred duty, they turned against us. We were called collaborators," the Pakistan PM said.

The statement by Imran Khan at the UN regarding Pashtuns supporting the Taliban is misleading & condemnable. This is a reflection of his regressive mindset. Pashtuns as a nation never supported the Taliban they are the victims of their extreme ideology,Aimal Wali Khan of ANP tweeted.

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Mohsin Dawar took to Twitter and said this is misinformation that the Prime Minister is spreading on an international platform. "Just shocked at how the PM of Pakistan can describe Taliban as Pashtun nationalists. The Taliban is a project of Pakistan's Generals for decimating Pashtun identity. Does the PM really think that the world is so uninformed that he can sell such lies on the UNGA forum?" he tweeted.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/imran-khan-says-pashtuns-are-taliban-sympathisers-leader-reacts-101632567729241.html