Pakistan’s newly elected prime minister said one of his first goals would be to put an end to U.S. drone strikes in the country.
Nawaz Sharif was approved as prime minister in a surprise landslide vote, receiving 244 of 342, the BBC reported. This is his third term — an unprecedented accomplishment in Pakistani politics. He’s due for a swearing-in ceremony Wednesday.
His list of political promises is significant: Not only does he face growing pressure to bolster the nation’s weak economy, but he’s also vowed to stop U.S. drone strikes and simultaneously halt attacks from militants, BBC said.
He’s not against talking with the Pakistani Taliban, BBC reported. But military analysts largely believe that his campaign promises of open-door discussions with the militant group will quickly fade — as past negotiation attempts have. And he will soon adopt a more stringent tone and conclude that the only way to put a halt to militant attacks is to outright fight jihadists and Taliban insurgents, the BBC reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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