Firm stance

This refers to the news report ‘‘Absolutely not’: PM Imran Khan on giving Pakistani bases to US for Afghanistan operations’ (June 19). It was good to note that in an interview with a foreign journalist, Imran Khan unequivocally declared that Pakistan will not give, or allow the use of, bases in Pakistan to the US in order to facilitate US operations in Afghanistan. The country has already paid the price for supporting the US in the Afghan war. Earlier, when it gave its bases to the US for the latter’s supposed ‘war on terror’, its relations with Afghanistan became strained. For its own security as well as that of Afghanistan and the region’s, the country should avoid taking steps which may hurt its neighbour. There is no use of appeasing the US since the country has always viewed India as the regional leader.

Of course, we should have normal relations with the US. However, anything over and above that is neither possible nor feasible.

SRH Hashmi

Karachi