ISLAMABAD – A senior US Democrat leader of Pakistani descent Shahid Ahmed Khan has said that the proposed bill presented in the US Senate which seeks sanctions against countries supporting Taliban has no support from Democrats and would face defeat.
“This bill is not against Pakistan rather against the Biden administration just to build up pressure of their decisions on Afghanistan”, Shah Ahmed Khan told The Nation on phone from Boston yesterday.
“There is no danger from this to Pakistan for any sanctions”, Mr Khan asserted. Mr Khan worked closely with US President Joe Biden during his election campaign and is being considered for an important diplomatic assignment by the White House which is likely to be announced in near future.
Shahid Khan said majority of Democrats lawmakers in both houses are supportive of Pakistan’s positive role in Afghanistan and support which extended to United States by Pakistan in pre and post-fall of Kabul.
“Pakistan needs to present and project its narrative on Afghanistan in Washington so that various lobbies may have a clear understanding of ground realities in Afghanistan,” Khan remarked.
US lawmaker says proposed bill presented in Senate for sanctions on certain countries including Pakistan will face defeat
“There cannot be any solution for Afghanistan without getting engaged with Pakistan by the US administration”, Mr Khan asserted.
When asked why there is growing opposition for the Taliban regime in Kabul, Shahid said the Taliban regime does not have political legitimacy.
“Taliban regime was not endorsed by any Political Jirga”, he said.
He went to the extent by saying about Pakistan’s role in the region as a “strategic card” in the region which needs to be played well by Pakistani leadership.
He expressed optimism about the upcoming visit by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Islamabad on October 7, where she would hold talks with Pakistani leaders on Afghanistan and regional situation including Pak-India relations and Pak-US relations.
However, he was critical of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s absence at the recent UNGA session and said it was strategically important for the PM to be there in New York to meet world leaders and present his narrative on Afghanistan and regional peace, but he missed this opportunity.