LAHORE: Nothing big should be expected from the Trump-Imran meeting as the US would only be looking after its own interest, says Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Senator Sirajul Haq.

In a statement here on Tuesday, he said the meeting between the US president and the prime minister on Monday was a formality and Mr Khan should not pin much hope on that. The US president would be friendly only as long as the other side was toeing their line.

Mr Haq said that the US needed Pakistan’s help after its defeat in Afghanistan. He said in such a situation, Pakistan most stress upon the US president to support this country for resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions. He said that peace could not guaranteed in South East Asia without granting the Kashmiris their right of self determination.

He said if President Trump was sincere, he should exert pressure for plebiscite in Kashmir. He also urged Indian Premier Modi not to add to the problems of the Indian people and try to save enitre India from destruction.

He, however, announced that the JI would continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris.

JI deputy chief Liaqat Baloch said that the history of the Pak-US relations had been bitter and it was still a secret what the US had gained to serve its interests and what relief Pakistan had achieved.

In a statement here, he, however, said that the US would itself reveal this secret soon. He said that India had rejected Trump’s offer for mediation on Kashmir.

Baloch said that besides Kashmir, the issues before Pakistan were relations with Afghanistan, Iran and China and alongside the security of CPEC.

He said the people of Pakistan had not gained anything from the US aid nor they would gain anything from it in the future.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2019