Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan admits "we still have between 30,000 and 40,000 terrorists"

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday that his country had about "30,000 to 40,000 terrorists who had trained and fought in" part of Afghanistan or Kashmir ".

At an event in the United States, Imran Khan said that prior to the coming to power of the Pakistani government Tehreek-e-Insaf, previous governments did not have the political will to do so. to act against terrorist groups operating in the country.

"Until we came to power, governments did not have the political will, because when you talk about militant groups, we still have about 30,000 to 40,000 armed people who have been trained and fought. in part of Afghanistan or Kashmir, "said the president. Pakistani Prime Minister.

"There was a turning point in Pakistani politics: In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban slaughtered 150 schoolchildren at the Army Public School.All political parties signed the national action plan and we all decided thereafter not to let any militant group operate on the inside. Pakistan, "he told the US Institute of Peace.

He said his government was the first to disarm terrorist groups. "This is the first time this has happened, we have taken over their institutes, their seminars, we have administrators there," he added.

Sources in the New Delhi government said it was important for Pakistani leaders to rely on this information to "destroy the breeding ground of terrorists".

"This is what we have been saying since the beginning, and I am pleased that the Pakistani Prime Minister has welcomed it, and Pakistani leaders have repeatedly recognized this fact, and it is equally important for Pakistani leaders to act accordingly. by destroying the terror of terrorists in areas under Pakistan's control by taking credible and irreversible measures, "government sources said.

In another event, Imran Khan also said that "40 different militant groups" were operating from Pakistan. Previous governments, especially in the last 15 years, were not under control and did not tell the United States of the exact "truth on the ground", did they? he declares.

"We were fighting against US terrorism, Pakistan has nothing to do with September 11. Al-Qaeda was in Afghanistan, there were no Taliban militants in Pakistan, but we joined the American war. Unfortunately, when the situation went wrong, I blame my government, we did not tell the truth exactly to the United States on the ground, "Khan told US lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

"Part of the reason was that our governments were not under control.There were 40 different militant groups operating in Pakistan," he said.

The cricketer turned Pakistani politician spoke at a reception given by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, chairman of Pakistan's congressional caucus.

"So Pakistan went through a period where people like us were worried about whether we could survive it, so while the United States was expecting us to do more to help the United States. United to win the war, Pakistan was fighting for its own existence, "he said. .

Asked if the 26/11 brain, Hafiz Saeed, recently arrested, would remain in jail or be released, Imran Khan said his government had already decided to "not allow any armed militia in our country" in the country. Interest of Pakistan, but because the terrorist group Jaish e Mohammed claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack, "Pakistan suddenly appeared in the spotlight". He claimed that the attack was "clearly an aboriginal affair".

India's position on Pulwama is clear, sources in the government said. "Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the attack.It is a well known fact that Jaish-e-Mohammed and his leader, Masood Azhar, are based in Pakistan.It is a enough evidence for Pakistan to act, "sources said.

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