Published 15:22 IST, September 24th 2019

Imran Khan admits Pakistan Army, ISI trained Al Qaeda, justifies links

Imran Khan admitted that Pak Army trained terror groups to fight the Soviet in 1988s and still have links however, Taliban was created in 1994.

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
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Imran Khan ackwledged that Pakistan Army and spy service ISI trained Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda and or jihad organisations, on a global platform,

In a conversation with Council on Foreign Relations during his visit to United States for UNGA, Prime Minister of Pakistan divulged that re were 'always links' between m, reiterating his admission. Imran Khan furr uncloaked how re was a strife between Pakistan Army after Pakistan leadership did a '180 degree turn' on se terror outfits post terror attack on New York Twin Tower, 9/11. 

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He said, " Pakistani Army, ISI, trained Al Qaeda and all se troops to fight in Afghanistan. re were always links between—re had to be links, because y trained m. w, as I said, after 9/11, when we did a 180-degree turn and went after those groups, you kw, t everyone agreed with us. Within Army people didn’t agree with us. And so, as I said, re were more insider attacks in Pakistan." 

READ| Pakistan & Terrorism: 6 Freudian slips by Pak leaders on Osama, Hafiz Saeed & Masood Azhar that give it all away

This is t first time, Pakistan Prime Minister has made an public admission over links between country's Army and terror organisations like Al Qaeda, who are responsible for multiple terror strikes across world. 

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Imran Khan on 'War on terror'

Reiterating his stance, Pakistan stated that joining United States in Afghanistan was 'biggest blunder' and shielding his country said that Pakistan should t be blamed for US' failures in Afghanistan. He furr lauded US President Donald Trump's attempts for dialogue and peace deal.  

He said, "Pakistan, by joining US after 9/11, committed one of biggest blunders. Seventy thousand Pakistanis died in this. And on top of it, we were blamed for U.S. t winning in Afghanistan. I thought it was worst period for Pakistan."

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"I do t think that it’s because of Pakistan US has t been able to succeed in Afghanistan, simply because re is a history behind it. It was never going to happen. And fortunately—fortunately, President Trump has done, you kw, by him forcing re to be a dialogue and n this peace deal, which was just about to be signed—this is painful for us," Imran Khan added. 

READ| Imran Khan says 'unfair' to blame Pak over US' failure in Afghanistan

However, Islamabad and Pakistan Army has always maintained a pro-Taliban stance, pertaining to ir old links with terror organisation, ever since its inception in mid-1990s. Experts have opined that Pakistan has viewed armed militant group, Taliban, as 'legitimate representatives' of Afghanistan as opposed to Afghan government, who has opposed to Islamabad's interference in Kabul. It has also been in public domain that ISI's long history of involvement in backing and promoting terrorism, packd as Pakistan's geostrategic interest.

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Al Qaeda and Pakistan links

A meeting between Osama bin Laden, current chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Dr Fadl was held in Pakistani city, consequently terror organisation, Al Qaeda came into being on August 11, 1988 in Pakistan's Peshawar.  However, Soviet Union started ir withdrawal from Afghanistan in May 1988,  and withdrawal lasted until February 1989 and five years after that, Taliban was formed in 1994.

Imran Khan during his address completely overlooked how Pakistan even till date continues to harbour terror outfits and designated terrorists including Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed on ir soil. 

READ| Imran Khan hammered online for 'jihad in Afghanistan' admission

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14:54 IST, September 24th 2019