Will Imran Khan succeed in restoring Pak-Iran traditionally friendly ties?

The elections in Pakistan that have propelled a new face as prime minister who seems intent to change the policies of the government is being interestingly watched by neighbours, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Here is a Viewpoint Column that appeared in Iran’s English language daily Kayhan International on Saturday, July 28 titled: “Will Imran Khan Succeed in Restoring Pak-Iran Traditionally Friendly Ties?”

Kayhan International wrote: “A fresh face of what until now was regarded as a marginal party is all set to be at the helm of affairs in neighbouring Pakistan, thus breaking the half-century stranglehold of PPP (Pakistan’s People’s Party) and the Muslim League, the two parties which the powerful military generals had allowed to get elected to govern the country intermittently in between their coups.

“Wednesday’s violence-marred parliamentary polls for the 272-parliament saw the largest number of votes cast for the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf) thus making its founder and leader, the charismatic former cricket champion Imran Khan, the new prime minister of Pakistan.

“It is a refreshing development indeed, indicating the changed mood of the people who obviously tired of rampant economic corruption, unbridled terrorism, and the stagnant policies of the traditional political parties, decided to give chance to a sportsman known for his spectacular performances with both the bat and the ball during his cricketing career which he topped by winning the World Cup in 1992 as captain – the only time cricket crazy Pakistan had won this prestigious International One-Day Championship.

“Though it remains to be seen which parties might support him to enable him to get the required number of seats for forming the government and what sort of a cabinet he will form to fulfill his election promise of transforming Pakistan into a politically stable state with a thriving economy and friendly relations with all neighbours, Imran Khan’s victory speech on Thursday offered a glimpse of his foreign policy priorities.”

Kayhan International pointed out: “Critics have conceded that his vision appears as a laudable goal that has eluded Pakistan leaders, whether civilian or military for decades, provided he is able to achieve his objectives in the murky world of internal politics and the treacherous international arena where the villain of the piece is, of course, the US, which continues to hold Pakistan as hostage to its extra-territorial policy of state terrorism.

“Imran Khan was clear when he described Islamabad-Washington ties as “one-way” that has brought nothing but harm to Pakistan, and vowed to make this complex relationship “mutually beneficial” and “balanced relationship”.

“During the heated election campaign he had questioned the right of the US to carry out drone attacks on perceived terrorist targets in the areas bordering Afghanistan, saying this blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty should stop.

“Imran Khan was critical of the so-called “war on terror” and the “Afghan jihad,” saying Afghanistan’s people have suffered the most and needed peace. He said he would make all efforts to end the plight in coordination with Afghanistan’s other neighbours, since he wanted to see “open borders” similar to the European Union.

“On traditional rival India, he said the improvement of Islamabad-New Delhi ties is to the benefit of all, and if the current climate of distrust could be broken by steps to resolve the chronic question of divided Kashmir, which he called a “core issue”, then he saw no reason why trade and commerce between the two should not be promoted in order to reduce poverty.”

Kayhan international wrote: “Of course, China with its huge economic investment in Pakistan figured prominently in his speech, while thanking Saudi Arabia for its generous help Imran Khan, who was criticized by the heretical Wahhabi cult for paying of respects at the Sufi shrines in Pakistan during the election campaign, did not kowtow to the regime in Riyadh as was the practice of his predecessor Nawaz Sharif.

“Instead, without naming Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, or the Persian Gulf, where Israeli-supported Saudi sedition has plunged the whole region into wars famine, and destruction, he merely said he would try to help resolve tensions in the region.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the new Pakistani prime minister’s seemingly frank approach, especially when he said in his victory speech on Thursday that he is keen on improving ties with Iran.

“This was indeed a plus point in his speech, as viewed from Tehran, and it was not the first instance of Imran Khan’s support for Iran’s stances, which he had often endorsed on earlier occasions vis-à-vis American highhandedness.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran which has never hesitated in honouring its good-neighbourliness with all countries, including Pakistan, is ready to extend its helping hand to the new prime minister in Islamabad to not just stabilize the 700-km long joint border through coordinated measures to root out foreign-funded terrorism, or to activate the gas pipeline for a much-needed fillip to Pakistan’s economy-industrial sector, but to back Islamabad’s bid to free itself from the vicious stranglehold of Washington that should be decisively cut off from Afghanistan as well in order to mold the region on the EU model, as Khan said.”

AS/SS