Islamabad: Former Pakistan PM Imran KHAN Did it again—he praised India. At a massive rally in Lahore on Saturday, Khan played a video clip of the Indian foreign minister JaishankarDefending your country’s position by buying cheap oil from Russia against western pressure
A few days before he stepped down, and since then, Khan was citing the example of India as a country that was pursuing an independent foreign policy in the interests of its people, though he was under PM Narendra Modi’s NDA. He is a well-known critic of the government.
During his address, Khan lavished praise on India’s foreign policy and praised Jaishankar for standing firm to US pressure to buy oil from Russia. He said, ‘If India, which has gained independence along with Pakistan, can take a tough stand according to the needs of its people and can make its foreign policy, then why not? Pakistan Do it?” she asked.
“US imposed sanctions on Moscow when war broke out in Ukraine. It ordered India not to buy oil from Russia. Delhi is Washington’s strategic ally. Pakistan is not. Let’s see what India’s foreign minister said when US Asked them not to buy Russian oil,” Imran said before airing a clip of Jaishankar from his June 3 address at the Bratislava Forum in Slovakia.
Responding to the question of India buying Russian oil, Jaishankar replied: “Is not buying Russian gas funding the war (Ukraine war)? Tell me, Russian gas is not funding the war? It is only Indian money, oil is coming to India which is money (war) and gas is not coming to Europe?
The coalition government of Pakistan has repeatedly criticized Khan for his pro-Indian remarks, with some members of the cabinet sarcastically suggesting him to leave the country and settle in India.
Observers see in Khan’s remarks an indirect attempt to put pressure on Pakistan’s powerful military establishment which plays a vital role in the country’s foreign policy. “The civilian government has a symbolic part in Pakistan’s policy towards India, Afghanistan, Iran and the US. Without the consent of the military, it is almost impossible for the government to take independent decisions regarding relations with Delhi, Kabul, Tehran and Washington,” said Asad Khan, an analyst with Islamabad.
A few days before he stepped down, and since then, Khan was citing the example of India as a country that was pursuing an independent foreign policy in the interests of its people, though he was under PM Narendra Modi’s NDA. He is a well-known critic of the government.
During his address, Khan lavished praise on India’s foreign policy and praised Jaishankar for standing firm to US pressure to buy oil from Russia. He said, ‘If India, which has gained independence along with Pakistan, can take a tough stand according to the needs of its people and can make its foreign policy, then why not? Pakistan Do it?” she asked.
“US imposed sanctions on Moscow when war broke out in Ukraine. It ordered India not to buy oil from Russia. Delhi is Washington’s strategic ally. Pakistan is not. Let’s see what India’s foreign minister said when US Asked them not to buy Russian oil,” Imran said before airing a clip of Jaishankar from his June 3 address at the Bratislava Forum in Slovakia.
Responding to the question of India buying Russian oil, Jaishankar replied: “Is not buying Russian gas funding the war (Ukraine war)? Tell me, Russian gas is not funding the war? It is only Indian money, oil is coming to India which is money (war) and gas is not coming to Europe?
The coalition government of Pakistan has repeatedly criticized Khan for his pro-Indian remarks, with some members of the cabinet sarcastically suggesting him to leave the country and settle in India.
Observers see in Khan’s remarks an indirect attempt to put pressure on Pakistan’s powerful military establishment which plays a vital role in the country’s foreign policy. “The civilian government has a symbolic part in Pakistan’s policy towards India, Afghanistan, Iran and the US. Without the consent of the military, it is almost impossible for the government to take independent decisions regarding relations with Delhi, Kabul, Tehran and Washington,” said Asad Khan, an analyst with Islamabad.