WASHINGTON: Another statement in support of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan by a member of US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming team has again lifted the spirits of the opposition leader’s party, which has been campaigning for his release.
In an interview with the American digital platform newsmax On Wednesday, Richard Grenell, who has been named Trump’s “special missions envoy,” sharply criticized the Biden administration’s policies toward Pakistan, particularly its handling of the country’s missile program and the jailing of Imran Khan.
Grenell’s frank comments, part of a growing series of statements and tweets made over the past few weeks, have attracted significant attention in Pakistan, where both the government and opposition are grappling with the implications of his comments.
Known for his active participation on social media, Grenell has frequently tweeted in support of the jailed former prime minister, urging his release. His publicationsincluding the now viral “Free Imran Khan!” tweet, have been widely shared by PTI supporters.
Richard Grenell draws parallels between Trump and PTI founder, says both face ‘baseless’ corruption allegations
In the appearance in newsmaxGrenell noted that the Trump administration had a much better relationship with Pakistan, especially under the leadership of Imran Khan.
“That’s because Imran Khan was an outlier. He was a former cricketer who was not a politician. “He spoke in very common sense language and he and Donald Trump had a very good relationship.”
Grenell’s connection with the PTI leader appears rooted in shared political values and his perception of Khan as a victim of authoritarianism.
He further explained that Imran’s “outsider status” was a key factor in their relationship, underlining his belief that non-politicians often make the best leaders.
“In fact, I think that having people from outside, not politicians, people with common sense, businessmen, is what works best for them,” he added. This reflects Grenell’s broader belief in the value of pragmatic leadership, a theme that also resonated with Trump.
However, his comments also directly focused on Imran Khan’s imprisonment. He criticized what he described as politically motivated charges, drawing parallels between Khan’s situation and that of Trump, who he said was facing similar politically charged accusations. “He is currently in prison on many of the same allegations, as is President Trump, where the ruling party imprisoned him and created some corruption allegations and false accusations,” Grenell said.
His vocal support for Imran Khan has contributed to a growing social media presence, with his follower count increasing dramatically in just a short period. Grenell’s comments have also made him a popular figure among PTI supporters, and his influence has spread rapidly across platforms.
missile program
The issue of Pakistan’s missile program has been a source of tension between the two nations for years, and the Biden administration recently imposed sanctions on Pakistani entities accused of contributing to missile development. Grenell also highlighted these tensions, suggesting that future American foreign policy will need to engage more directly with Pakistan on these issues.
Emphasizing that countries with nuclear capabilities, like Pakistan, needed a different foreign policy approach, particularly regarding their missile programs, he accused the Biden White House of neglecting such critical issues until the final days of his term. .
“Let’s add Pakistan to the long list of issues that Jake Sullivan and the Biden team have clearly decided they need to move forward on here, at the end of the last 45 days, because they have made no progress in the last four years. ” said. He also argued that the United States should take a clearer and more direct approach to these issues, rather than delaying action.
In their conversation, Grenell also revealed that future Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be tasked with addressing issues such as Pakistan’s nuclear and missile ambitions. “Obviously, if a country has nuclear weapons, it changes the position on how to deal with them. And Pakistan is one of those countries that has nuclear weapons.”
PTI welcomes, others skeptical
Grenell’s statements have not only sparked political debates in the United States, but have also boosted the morale of the PTI and its supporters. The comments have provided a renewed sense of hope to Imran Khan’s fans.
According to media reports, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqqas Akram and other party leaders welcomed the statement and said that if anyone stands up for human rights “they will be welcomed”.
On the other hand, PTI Chairman Advocate Gohar Ali Khan said that they wanted to ensure the freedom of Imran Khan in accordance with the law and the Constitution. He said the party “will not request or expect any interference.”
Now the question arises: Are Grenell’s statements a reflection of his personal views or will they have a lasting impact on the Trump administration’s future policies towards Pakistan?
Many in Pakistan, especially Khan’s supporters, are closely watching the Trump aide’s growing influence and social media following, and hope his defense of the imprisoned PTI leader will lead to a change in US policy toward Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, warned that Grenell’s statements in the media should not be confused with formal political statements. “Such statements have little impact on the situation on the ground and may not be enough to remove Imran Khan,” he said.
Published in Dawn, December 26, 2024
