CNN Interview with Imran Khan: Assassination Attempt on the ex-Prime Minister by the Establishment and PDM

[FuturePAF]

I agree with much of what you say, but IK is known more for doubling down lately, so it is unlikely to be heeded.

He is emotional speaker; a reflection of our culture, and therefore repeats the talking points that win him support locally.

The fact that the status quo is held up internationally for stability’s sake prevents democracy to develop naturally, and give the wrong impression to the people.

His team has to work out how to reassure the world of stability while convincing them that democracy is the best way to achieve it for the long term. He will have to drop all elements of the Us Backing theory, to achieve it, if only because the actions that occurred were all done by locals.

 

[VCheng]

Politics mein chalta hai.

Of course. USA will understand that, but most of IK's supporters may not.

He is emotional speaker; a reflection of our culture, and therefore repeats the talking points that win him support locally.

The fact that the status quo is held up internationally for stability’s sake prevents democracy to develop naturally, and give the wrong impression to the people.

His team has to work out how to reassure the world of stability while convincing them that democracy is the best way to achieve it for the long term. He will have to drop all elements of the Us Backing theory, to achieve it, if only because the actions that occurred were all done by locals.

Please see the above. IK may be playing to his supporters, and not for anyone else as much.

 

[FuturePAF]

IK has left himself with very little maneuvering room to backtrack his adversarial stance with USA, unfortunately, to the point that any reconciliation will leave his supporter base confused, and that he cannot afford at the present time.

He can tell his supporters that for far too long the status quo people have told the world that Pakistan’s democracy can not be trusted. He can give a speech in which he lays out a pledge to adhere to rule of law, democratic institutions, and all other elements of good governance that focus on development of the people. The explicit invocation of these aspects of democracy and his recent brush with death can help shift the narrative to make him a figure that doesn’t want to look at past grievances but only the future needs and aspirations of the Pakistani people.

Now it is up to his team to craft such a narrative, hopefully.

Of course. USA will understand that, but most of IK's supporters may not.



Please see the above. IK may be playing to his supporters, and not for anyone else as much.

His team needs to realize CNN is watched by more people in the beltway then his supporters, so they have to craft a message for the Washington elites, when IK appears on CNN.

 

[VCheng]

He can tell his supports that for far too long the status quo people have told the world that Pakistan’s democracy can not be trusted. He can give a speech in which he lays out a pledge to adhere to rule of law, democratic institutions, and all other elements of good governance that focus on development of the people. The explicit invocation of these aspects of democracy and his recent brush with death can help shift the narrative to make him a figure that doesn’t want to look at past grievances but only the future needs and aspirations of the Pakistani people.

Now it is up to his team to craft such a narrative, hopefully.


His team needs to realize CNN is watched by more people in the beltway then his supporters, so they have to craft a message for them, when IK appears on CNN.

His speeches talk more about promises he cannot possible ever achieve, but may be he will take the advice above. Probably not, but we can be pleasantly surprised, I hope.

 

[Ssan]

The US is not a monolithic, and he will have to change that part of the rhetoric to saying some elements of the US were misguided for giving the impression that they did not prefer to directly work out the issues with the democratically elected government.

Damage control of course, but a pivot to democracy above all, should be the common ground to rebuild the relationship.

IK could even say Pakistan barely has 30 years of democratic rule in its 75 year history, and is therefore a “young democracy”, similar to the East Asian nations that have only had a generation of true democracy. His government should not be discounted because it is learning on the fly, but that he represents a large segment of the population, if not a majority, and he is using peaceful means (such as the courts and mass protest) to bring about democracy.

He supports building institutions, rule of law, and a liberal democracy. Genuinely wants good relations with the US (as do most Pakistanis), but wants the understanding of the US that Pakistan need to be allowed to find solutions that meet those goals while maintaining harmony within the country; there is a difference of culture and to how much change people are willing to accept and at what speed and cost to their personal liberty. If his struggle against the crony capitalism in Pakistan wins, it opens the market for western investment and for a more prosperous society, that is focused primarily on bread and butter issues.

I’m sorry- this might be a rational perspective but it’s off the mark.

The deep state may operate like this behind closed doors but the public perception in America is fickle. And sometime speaking truth to power has the intended consequences. Americans are fed up of the bottle fed, spoon fed narrative that they receive from the media. That’s why people like Trump click.

As far as the state is concerned, the political side is more concerned with what Pakistani Americans think and support. Because we count for half a million votes- 90%+ who support IK. For the deep state, CNN interviews don’t matter anyways.

Yes, IK could speak better but he resonates with Americans. The breadcrumbs traces a path- and no one is stupid to not see who is implicated here.

 

[FuturePAF]

Khan should have advisors like you in his team. Brilliantly put in regards to rapprochement with USA. This should be conveyed to him.

Thanks. I hope at least someone from his team reads this forum, and if not I’ll try to reach out to them.

 

[FuturePAF]

I’m sorry- this might be a rational perspective but it’s off the mark.

The deep state may operate like this behind closed doors but the public perception in America is fickle. And sometime speaking truth to power has the intended consequences. Americans are fed up of the bottle fed, spoon fed narrative that they receive from the media. That’s why people like Trump click.

As far as the state is concerned, the political side is more concerned with what Pakistani Americans think and support. Because we count for half a million votes- 90%+ who support IK. For the deep state, CNN interviews don’t matter anyways.

Yes, IK could speak better but he resonates with Americans. The breadcrumbs traces a path- and no one is stupid to not see who is implicated here.

As I said, the US is not a monolithic, and the Trump is no longer president. If he had been, he would have still been more receptive to IK’s approach, IMHO. Remember it was trump that said why was the US in Afghanistan, … Pakistan should be dealing with the problem (by which I don’t think he meant fighting but defending the border). A shrewd observation that we would have hoped the careerists in the US would have understood.

But now we are with a democrat president and the bureaucratic career think tankers. They also need a narrative for why IK and Pakistan should be let in “from the cold”. He needs an off ramp as much as they also need an off ramp in Pakistani public opinion, as well as Muslim public opinion surrounding the push for democracy the last 20 years.

A “friendly” Pakistan would be important for them in the Cold War with China, border of Iran, and close enough neighbor to Russia/Central Asia/Afghanistan, and well as a country that can synergie India‘s growth for US investors. If IK can find that balance, of the needs of his people and US interests, it would be vindication for the democracy over autocracy model, as Pakistan is soon to become the largest Muslim majority country, 4th largest by population globally and a democracy. Bajwa said he wants Pakistan to have the same relationship with the US as South Korea, but South Korea is a democracy, one with its flaws but still supported by the U.S.

As far as Pakistani-American voters, I’m about to head to the polls now, and I’m thinking to vote Republican if this is what voting Democrat means. I’m not going to vote for Joe in 2024 unless he can turn the relationship around with Pakistan! I think many Pakistani-Americans are thinking the same way.

 

[VCheng]

A “friendly” Pakistan would be important for them in the Cold War with China, border of Iran, and close enough neighbor to Russia, and well as a country that can synergie India‘s growth for US investors.

That "strategic location" manjan may not work anymore, given the changed world.

 

[Menace2Society]

What IK did wrong in his tenure is he went full mullah mode and started making strange statements on women and too much focus on religion. Easy bait for pro Indian lobbyists in the west who were constantly seeking a regime change and to bring their Sharifs and Zardaris back in power.

I really didn't understand this behavior, all his life he has been a complete and balanced individual. He should have kept the focus on his philanthropy and built up the goodwill. His sensationalist statements did not help his cause apart from getting a few more supporters from the jahil backwater towns in Pakistan who would turn their backs on him for a plate of biryani from TLP.

I think he received bad advice from his wife and whatever jahil backwater types that float around her.

He should remain single and focused and remain authentic to his character and not listen to advice from these medicore people around him with IQs of a chicken.

 

[FuturePAF]

That "strategic location" manjan may not work anymore, given the changed world.

It’s not 2021, but 2022. The world changed again. It may not be Af-Pak any more but there is still the Russian underbelly and Iranian border. POF ordnance to Ukraine and a probably ops into a restive Iran. There seems to be reconciliation by one deep state to the other, now the politicians need to find a way to mend fences and change the narrative.

 

[VCheng]

It may not be Af-Pak any more but there is still the Russian underbelly and Iranian border. POF ordnance to Ukraine and a restive Iran are still going to be lingering issues.

Surely Pakistan's location has not changed, but how it can be leveraged has changed. A lot.

 

[Maula Jatt]

There is little to discuss here with people like @VCheng. Their loyalty lies with the country they reside in. Good for them. His country is responsible for regime change in Pakistan. This is a well documented fact. The US government is responsible for regime change in Pakistan.

Our loyalty lies with Pakistan. Unfortunately, we have an army that also has a loyalty problem. Their loyalty lies with the USA. This is the real problem that needs to be addressed. Everything else is a waste of time. Our focus should be towards the Pakistani army. This Institute is responsible for 95% of the mess in Pakistan.

I don't know why anyone takes this coconut V "remains to be seen" chung seriously

 

[FuturePAF]

Surely Pakistan's location has not changed, but how it can be leveraged has changed. A lot.

Iran and Russia are more important then Afghanistan, and even that issue still lingers. Pakistan hasn’t become less relevant but more as Iran and Russia will become more desperate.

 

[ghazi52]

,.,.
Khan Sahib's meeting with the daughters of Shaheed Faisal.

 

[VCheng]

Iran and Russia are more important then Afghanistan, and even that issue still lingers. Pakistan hasn’t become less relevant but more as Iran and Russia will become more desperate.

We can take that discussion up in a more suitable thread. Here, whether IK can use some of your advice to make his case to the west that he would find supportive all depends on his mindset, and thus far there has been no indication that he might be inclined in that direction at all, even after the assassination attempt.