News Analysis |
India’s high commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria is expected to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan today at his Bani Gala residence. According to India media, Mr. Bisaria is likely to outline India’s case for strict action by Islamabad against terror groups. Khan who is likely to take oath as the Prime Minister on August 17 had previously expressed the desire to start a new era of relationship with India.
Since, PTI’s victory in general elections, Bani Gala has become the hub of national and international political dialogue and activities. After the victory, Imran’s heartwarming and balanced speech triggered a largely positive response from within and outside the country. The evolution of a third political force/player in a two-party rule and emergence of a leader devoid of any corruption charges appeased the international players.
Imran in his victory speech particularly addressed the foreign policy-something which surprisingly went missing from his party’s 100-day agenda/Manifesto.
The string of the ambassadors has flocked the Khan’s residence. On Thursday, Russian Ambassador Alexey Dedov called on the PTI chief and greeted him on his party’s victory in the July 25 election. Similarly, he also held meetings with envoys of the US, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UK and UAE who conveyed their respective government’s greetings.
PTI chief also had an interaction with some world leaders including Indian PM Narendra Modi, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Tayyab Erdogan and Iranian President Dr. Hassan Rouhani, who called him and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the country.
These are the representatives of the countries which can play a crucial part in maneuvering the path which Imran’s so-called Naya Pakistan takes. Each country has a stake in Pakistan’s progression as an economically vibrant and secure state.
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The extremely positive response of the international players to Khan’s victory can pave way for Pakistan to develop special trading ties and resolve the disputes in the mutual benefit of all the regional players. Imran in his victory speech particularly addressed the foreign policy-something which surprisingly went missing from his party’s 100-day agenda/Manifesto.
Prior to July 25 election, Indian media ran a smearing campaign against Khan and portrayed him as a religious fanatic who backs the banned religious outfits. In an attempt to make the election controversial, Indian’s leading channels and newspapers regularly published material to blame Pakistan’s military establishment for meddling in the election process. Imran mentioned this in his speech and felt surprised that Indian media portrayed him as Bollywood villain.
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Indian media and war hawks speculated that in the post-poll scenario, Pakistan will be more or less same for India and that PM Khan might end up toeing Pakistan’s army stand on India. On the contrary, former Indian cricketers approach to Khan’s victory was completely different. Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu heaped praised on Imran’s credential as leader and human being. Slowly as the interviews of the cricketers started playing on air after Imran’s victory speech, a mood in Indian opted a more somber approach against Khan.
India’s High commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria is expected to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan today at his Bani Gala residence.
Imran’s gestures reveal that he is willing to start a dialogue process with Indian without any past baggage. India is likely to concentrate more on strict action against the terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. And Imran will tempt Indian to trigger a dialogue process revolving around Kashmir issue.
Khan emphasized that both the countries must stop the blame game and restart the relationship with a positive approach. He demonstrated this by ensuring India in his victory speech that “if India takes one step towards us, we will take two steps toward them…but at least (we) need a start.”
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Today’s meeting between the HC and Imran can kick-start a new era of trust and cooperation if both the stakeholders decide to continue bilateral talks, to develop a peaceful relationship which is only possible if the trust deficit is reduced.