ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has dismissed rumors suggesting that former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, might be extradited to the United States following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election.
“I don’t think Trump will advocate for Imran Khan’s release,” Asif wrote in a post on X.
Some of Khan’s supporters have speculated that the new U.S. president might push for his release due to a perceived acquaintance. Additionally, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari has announced plans to bring attention to Khan’s alleged mistreatment before the Trump administration.
However, Khan himself appears skeptical that the U.S. would intervene on his behalf. “I hope Trump will at least be neutral and not act like Joe Biden. My release will be resolved within Pakistan, not through the United States,” Khan told reporters from Adiala Jail.
Asif claimed that, hypothetically, if a U.S. request were made, it would be difficult for Pakistan to refuse. He referenced past instances where foreign offers were made to Pakistan, recalling that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif once rejected a $5 billion offer, allegedly from the U.S., not to proceed with nuclear testing. In contrast, Asif noted that former president Pervez Musharraf complied when contacted by the U.S. following 9/11.
Asif also commented on the ongoing impact of terrorism, asserting that, though the war related to 9/11 has ended and peace has returned to Afghanistan, Pakistan continues to bear the burden of terrorism’s aftermath.
“Those making such claims now are the same who supported Nawaz Sharif when he resisted foreign pressure and also supported Musharraf when he complied,” he added.
In response to media speculation, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed claims that Trump might influence Pakistan’s internal politics. Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Baloch emphasized, “Pakistan and the United States are longstanding friends and partners, and we will continue to base our relations on mutual respect, confidence, and non-interference.”
When questioned further on Trump’s potential influence over Pakistan’s domestic affairs, Baloch reaffirmed that both countries would respect each other’s sovereignty. She added that the president and prime minister of Pakistan have congratulated Trump on his election as the 47th president of the United States.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
