KARACHI, Dec 1: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief, Imran Khan, has welcomed the government’s new peace initiative to improve relations with India but, at the same time, advised Islamabad not to compromise on its own stand on the issues relating to tribal areas. He asked the government to refrain from playing a role of US policemen in these areas.

Imran Khan was talking to newsmen at an Eid Milan party hosted by him in a local hotel on Monday.

He appreciated the government for taking bold steps aimed at reducing between Pakistan and India and said that a positive outcome of the peace initiative would lead to a drastic cut in defence expenditure and encourage investment.

Referring to the explosive situation that had developed some time back with both the countries resorting to amass their troops along the borders, the PTI chief pointed out that the development had brought only sufferings for the governments and peoples of the two neighbours.

Regarding the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, Imran Khan was of the view that Pakistan should not be held responsible for the developments in that country as the situation was the ultimate outcome of the uncalled for war imposed by the United States.

Criticizing US aspirations, he remarked: “Washington now expects from Pakistan to indulge in a damage control exercise and cover up the mistakes committed by the US.”

He observed that wrong approach and measures on the part of the US following the 9/11 tragedy had heightened tension throughout the world besides provoking terrorism in Pakistan.

Mr Khan lamented that minority had been propelled to powers in Afghanistan to rule over the majority Pakhtoons who were marginalized. This cannot be justified, he declared.

Elaborating his advise to Islamabad with regard to tribal areas, the PTI chief said the government must refrain from taking a wrong decision under US pressure. Any miscalculation could turn the tribal people hostile to the government if it continued to play the role of US policeman, he said.

Commenting on the Gen Tauqeer Zia’s resignation from the Pakistan Cricket Control Board, he said recalled his proposal put forward earlier that Board should work as an autonomous institution in accordance with its own Constitution so that instead of ad-hoc appointment of its chief by the President of Pakistan, an elected person could run the Board’s affairs and be made accountable.