Imran Khan: Pakistan's future is tied up with Russia

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Speaking to DW's Richard Walker, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan explains why he did not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The 69-year-old also justifies a visit to Moscow that coincided with the beginning of the war on February 24, 2022.

https://www.dw.com/en/imran-khan-pakistans-future-is-tied-up-with-russia/av-62333847

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Kudos to Imran Khan for telling it like it is.

Even Germany wouldn't immediately cut off oil and gas from Russia, and they have alternatives. Pakistan has real needs of food and fuel with no backup which puts them in a difficult situation.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Few months back it was tied to China.

 

[JaDed]

Deja Vu here on the statement

 

[Champ_Pal]

Onething is very clear. Imran is anti-USA.

 

[gazza619]

One of the best interviews of Khan, a master piece for all leaders.

 

[ex-q-zit]

"India Was Staying Neutral. So, Pak...": Imran Khan On Russia-Ukraine War

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has claimed that former Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa wanted him to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine, but the then premier did not oblige him citing the example of India.

"On my return from Russia visit (a year ago being premier), Gen Bajwa asked me to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I told him that India, which is a strategic ally of the US, is staying neutral. So, Pakistan should stay neutral,” Mr Khan said while talking to students and religious scholars on Monday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief said that after his refusal, General Bajwa himself condemned Russia at a security seminar to appease the US.

Justifying his Russia visit, 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted from power through a no-confidence motion in April last year, said: "I went to Russia and convinced President Vladimir Putin to give wheat and fuel to Pakistan at cheaper rates as being supplied to India. With the support of Russia, India reduced its inflation from 7.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent but Pakistan's inflation rate rose from 12 per cent to 30 per cent." Mr Khan's maiden official visit to Moscow triggered a controversy back home as it happened the day President Putin ordered a "special military operation" against Ukraine.

The cricketer-turned-politician said Bajwa wanted him to condemn Putin to appease the United States. "But I put Pakistan's interest above," he said.

Khan has also held Gen Bajwa, the "main player", responsible for the conspiracy that resulted in his ouster from power. "Bajwa is a source of all the crises plaguing Pakistan today," he said.

Earlier, Khan described Gen Bajwa, who retired in November last year, as the "super-king" and said his three-and-a-half-year stint in the Prime Minister's Office was more like a "puppet".

“Gen Bajwa had become an expert in everything, including economy, politics, and foreign policy. Bajwa used to get the credit for good decisions and Khan used to serve as a punching bag for every wrong decision," he lambasted.

NDTV

 

[sweep_shot]

Americans are snakes.

I think long-term ally should be someone other than Yankees.

 

[PakLFC]

China, Russia and Turkey should be the most important countries for us. Good relations with the west depend on mutual respect and understanding. Forget the loser Arab's too for that matter.

 

[dildilpak]

First it was America, then China and now Russia. Why does Pakistan’s future always need to be tied up to another country? The American love story is long over and China has ditched it in its hour of need. 75 years of dependence on other countries has taken it nowhere, so when will Pakistan learn its lessons?

Also openly allaying with Russia at this point is not a wise idea. Not when Pakistan is dependent on IMF for a handout. When will IK learn some diplomacy in his hatred of the west?

 

[LongHorn]

Also openly allaying with Russia at this point is not a wise idea. Not when Pakistan is dependent on IMF for a handout. When will IK learn some diplomacy in his hatred of the west?

Dont blame IK, even in this forum most Pakistani posters posting on the war are blind Russia fans, asking them to vaporize Ukranians and so on. Anti western sentiment is very strong (including among those living in the west)
I daresay most Pakistanis even in the real world would be die hard Russia fans against the USA

 

[Local.Dada]

First it was America, then China and now Russia. Why does Pakistan’s future always need to be tied up to another country? The American love story is long over and China has ditched it in its hour of need. 75 years of dependence on other countries has taken it nowhere, so when will Pakistan learn its lessons?

Also openly allaying with Russia at this point is not a wise idea. Not when Pakistan is dependent on IMF for a handout. When will IK learn some diplomacy in his hatred of the west?

Imran Khan doesn’t hate the west. Common Pakistanis hate the west and some living in the west too. Do we require proof of that?

As a politician he is only milking that sentiment.

 

[dildilpak]

Dont blame IK, even in this forum most Pakistani posters posting on the war are blind Russia fans, asking them to vaporize Ukranians and so on. Anti western sentiment is very strong (including among those living in the west)
I daresay most Pakistanis even in the real world would be die hard Russia fans against the USA

Yeah I have seen that. Everybody here blames US for training Taliban and involving Pakistan in the mess, but conveniently forget that was necessitated due to Russia attacking Afghanistan fearing rising US influence in the midst of the Cold War. None of this would have happened if Russia hadnt attacked Afghanistan and set forth a chain reaction.

 

[LongHorn]

Yeah I have seen that. Everybody here blames US for training Taliban and involving Pakistan in the mess, but conveniently forget that was necessitated due to Russia attacking Afghanistan fearing rising US influence in the midst of the Cold War. None of this would have happened if Russia hadnt attacked Afghanistan and set forth a chain reaction.

Russia fans say that it was USSR which invaded Afghanistan (USSR = bad), and now it is Russia attacking Ukraine (Russia= good)

When you mention Russia either killing or supporting killing of Syrians/Chechens/Bosnians, they say no one is perfect.

Knee jerk anti west attitude is so ingrained that Russia is worshipped. If tomorrow Modi becomes anti America, these posters will be cheering him as well

 

[SalimBhai]

Russia fans say that it was USSR which invaded Afghanistan (USSR = bad), and now it is Russia attacking Ukraine (Russia= good)

When you mention Russia either killing or supporting killing of Syrians/Chechens/Bosnians, they say no one is perfect.

Knee jerk anti west attitude is so ingrained that Russia is worshipped. If tomorrow Modi becomes anti America, these posters will be cheering him as well

That pretty much sums up their mentality. There are more holes in their argument then Swiss cheese

 

[sweep_shot]

Russia fans say that it was USSR which invaded Afghanistan (USSR = bad), and now it is Russia attacking Ukraine (Russia= good)

When you mention Russia either killing or supporting killing of Syrians/Chechens/Bosnians, they say no one is perfect.

Knee jerk anti west attitude is so ingrained that Russia is worshipped. If tomorrow Modi becomes anti America, these posters will be cheering him as well

I am a bit confused about you.

You seem to bash Russia and gulf states. That's your right but which side are you really on?

 

[LongHorn]

I am a bit confused about you.

You seem to bash Russia and gulf states. That's your right but which side are you really on?

I dont see the need to take sides among parties who are all wrong. And I dont blame you for thinking I "bash Gulf states", because all Gulf states may seem the same to you. I only criticize modern Saudi leadership and the even more dangerous MBZ led UAE policies.
I support Qatar/Kuwait/Oman all of whom have far more dignity than sold out UAE. The Gulf is not one monolithic block, even pre Salman Saudi wouldnt have indulged in getting into bed with MBZ the way MBS has.

 

[Robert]

Russia fans say that it was USSR which invaded Afghanistan (USSR = bad), and now it is Russia attacking Ukraine (Russia= good)

When you mention Russia either killing or supporting killing of Syrians/Chechens/Bosnians, they say no one is perfect.

Knee jerk anti west attitude is so ingrained that Russia is worshipped. If tomorrow Modi becomes anti America, these posters will be cheering him as well

Well, USSR was a totalitarian regime dominated by the Politburo in Moscow.

The Russians Federation is an aggregate of authoritarian kleptocrat gangster states dominated by one man in Moscow.

What makes me sad is the tortuous double standard elevated - USA / UK / Poland / Australia killing Muslims in Iraq = bad, while Russia killing Muslims in Syria = good. The concept of ummah seems to apply in some circumstances but not others.

 

[RajBan]

Well, USSR was a totalitarian regime dominated by the Politburo in Moscow.

The Russians Federation is an aggregate of authoritarian kleptocrat gangster states dominated by one man in Moscow.

What makes me sad is the tortuous double standard elevated - USA / UK / Poland / Australia killing Muslims in Iraq = bad, while Russia killing Muslims in Syria = good. The concept of ummah seems to apply in some circumstances but not others.

That has always been the case.

 

[sweep_shot]

I dont see the need to take sides among parties who are all wrong. And I dont blame you for thinking I "bash Gulf states", because all Gulf states may seem the same to you. I only criticize modern Saudi leadership and the even more dangerous MBZ led UAE policies.
I support Qatar/Kuwait/Oman all of whom have far more dignity than sold out UAE. The Gulf is not one monolithic block, even pre Salman Saudi wouldnt have indulged in getting into bed with MBZ the way MBS has.

I see.

Thanks for clarifying.

I admit that there's not a single innocent state/entity/group currently. It has become all about who is the lesser evil.

 

[PakLFC]

Being on good terms with Russia does not men enmity with the west or America. Every country has the right to do right by itself. America and Russia being at odds does not mean we need to get involved in their handbag fights.