Author: Junaid S. Ahmad
Affiliation: The Center for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality
Organization/Publisher: Multipolarista
Date/Place: April 1, 2022 / Islamabad, Pakistan
Type of Literature: Analysis
Word Count: 2600
Link: https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/31/pakistan-foreign-regime-change-china-russia/
Keywords: Pakistan, Imran Khan, Vote of No Confidence, PTI, China, US, Russia, Islamophobia, Global South
Brief:
While briefing this analytical piece, Prime Minister Imran Khan has already dissolved parliament, around 1.5 years ahead of its 5-year-term, on the pretext that the US collaborated with some politicians in Pakistan to overthrow his government. At the least, this amounts to treason in any civilized society and exposes yet another regime change operation by Washington far outside its territory. This piece analyzes events as to why Khan fell out of favor with the US.
The author lays out 8 aspects that triggered the US to go out blazing all guns against Khan, warning Pakistani diplomats in Washington that any positive engagement with Islamabad is possible only when Khan is removed from office. The American diplomats prophesized that a no-confidence motion against Khan is ready and that Khan must lose it. The cricketer-turned top politician in Pakistan checkmated the move and dissolved the parliament for fresh elections, using the same pretext of foreign interference. Khan’s move to dissolve the compromised parliament was later deemed as “unconstitutional” by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, which has ordered the National Assembly to reconvene and hold a no-confidence vote that could lead to Khan’s removal from office. According to the author of this piece, Khan has been a vocal critic of US foreign policy, leading demonstrations against Washington’s so-called War on Terror, leading to its humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. Khan emerged as a top anti-colonial voice at the international stage, representing not just Muslim geographies but the global south as well. The PTI party chief cemented relations with China, expanded relations with Türkiye, Iran and Malaysia which appeared as challenging Muslim leadership housed with Al Saud in Riyadh. Islamabad has been a Cold War era rival of Russia, but Khan turned the tables and moved closer to Vladimir Putin, that too at a time when Moscow was under fire for its invasion of the Ukraine. Washington used all its resources to stop Khan from flying to Russia. He refused to sit down and follow the dictates from the US—and it cost him his government. When pressure was being built inside Pakistan to recognize Israel, Khan resisted even referring to the apartheid state in his talks. Because Khan had become a voice of liberation movements in Indian-occupied Kashmir and Palestine, and appears to be uncontrolled by the all-powerful military in Rawalpindi, Washington threatened Khan then compromised parliament members to overthrow him.
By: Riyaz ul Khaliq, CIGA Non-resident Research Associate
