*MOSCOW/ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, in an interview with Russian broadcaster RThas hit hard at the US policies against Pakistan. *

*He has claimed that the United Stats uses Pakistan like a tissue paper.*

“I think, it’s very unfair to Pakistan…Pakistan lost more human beings,almost 70,000 dead, vast number of them were handicapped because of bombblasts, for helping the Americans, for joining the American war it broughtthe heaviest cost. And at the end the Americans today blame Pakistan andput sanctions against it, I think, this is the greatest travesty ofjustice. I think, you know, it is something which is inconceivable that theU.S. would blame Pakistan for its failure in Afghanistan,” Khan said in aninterview with Russian broadcaster RT.

Pakistan’s strong response comes after US suspended aid worth about $2billion over Pakistan’s alleged ties with terror groups. It also putforward a motion to place Pakistan on a global terrorist-financingwatchlist.

“It will be damaging. I mean, for Pakistan, unfortunately, the economicsituation is not that strong right now. The country is actually goingthrough an economic crisis. So, American sanctions would be damaging. But Imean, is this justice? Is it fair? Is this how the U.S. would use a countrylike a tissue paper and when it thinks it doesn’t need it anymore it justcasts it away? I think it’s very immoral,” Khan said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman said that peace cannot be achieved inAfghanistan through military means. He said that instability in Afghanistanaffects Pakistan as well.

When asked about Pakistan allegedly misspent the aid provided by the US,Khan said: “The aid given in proportion to the damage done in Pakistan byparticipating in the U.S. war – there is no comparison. The aid was what?They say, about 20 billion dollars, maybe 25 billion dollars. Pakistan haslost over a hundred billion dollars. Economy suffered.”

He further said that tourism collapsed in this country. Even today foreigncricket teams don’t come to play in Pakistan. So this country took a heavypunishment by participating in that war. And as I said, the money comingfrom that aid is a small pittance compared to what it cost to people ofPakistan.

According to Imran, the strength of Pakistani Taliban has greatly reduced. “Ever since the American footprint reduced in Afghanistan, the level offanaticism went down in our country; no longer were the Pakistani securityforces supposed to be collaborators of the Americans.

Hence, the recruitment for the Pakistani Taliban went down, and thefanaticism went down and so the Pakistani security forces are more or lessin control of, what is called, a TPT – the Pakistan Taliban. The problem isin Afghanistan now. If Afghanistan is secure, settled, stable, then therewould be peace in Pakistan,” he added.