Expect sabotage but talks should go on: Imran Khan

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan tonight said he told Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expect sabotage by “vested interests” but stressed that talks between India and Pakistan should go on “uninterrupted”.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party chief, who met Modi here, welcomed the resumption of talks between the two countries.

“I told Prime Minsiter Modi that there would be elements who will try to derail the talks process. Will try to sabotage it. But he should resolve to carry forward the talks and not stop,” Khan said addressing “Agenda AajTak’.

He said the leaderships of both the countries should explain to the people dividends of peace.

Khan said he had a very cordial and relaxed talks with Modi. “I have met and spoken to so many Prime Ministers and leaders. But I rarely had such relaxed talks as I had with Modi,” he said.

The Pakistani politician added that he was “hopeful” and “positive” about the final outcome of the Indo-Pak talks.

Stressing that Kashmir is “doable”, Khan referred to the progress made on the issue between former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then Pakistani President Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf.

India and Pakistan had on Wednesday broken the ice in bilateral ties when they decided to have a comprehensive dialogue during the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad.

Khan stressed on the economic advantage of having a peaceful state of affairs between the two countries.

He said there is a consensus among the political leadership in Pakistan that talks with India should happen.

Seeking to refute assertions that the military is the real master in Pakistan, Khan said that even the military is on board.

He ruled out any scope of a coup or martial law in his country.

Despite playing with a straight bat on various issues, Khan ducked questions on LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim very skillfully.