Imran Khan’s poster diplomacy has Merkel, Boris Johnson. But Pakistanis can’t stop laughing
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Imran Khan’s poster diplomacy has Merkel, Boris Johnson. But Pakistanis can’t stop laughing

Announcement posters of Imran Khan’s phone calls with different world leaders, on the Afghan-Taliban issue, have led to a meme fest in Pakistan.

Bismee Taskin    

File photo of Pakistan PM Imran Khan | Facebook/mranKhanOfficial

New Delhi: So what if US President Joe Biden has still not called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan? There are many other Western leaders who are calling him. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is making it a point to remind everybody about all the high profile calls — from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Dutch PM Mark Rutte, and UK PM Boris Johnson. This has now become the big joke in Pakistan.

These announcement posters of the Pakistani PM’s phone calls with different world leaders, on the Afghan-Taliban issue, have led to a meme fest across social media with many calling it a “desperate attempt”.

This comes after failed attempts by Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf to get one call from US President Joe Biden for his PM Imran Khan. However, after Yusuf’s interview with Financial Times, Khan had denied waiting for any phone call from Biden, stating “it’s his business, it’s not like I’m waiting for any phone call.”

“Prime Minister Imran Khan received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel,” reads one of the posters that also have a tiny “telephone” icon. Looks like someone is still keeping a list of who called and who didn’t.

“Totally unnecessary to post this. Heads of government do this often. Or should be doing this often,” Azam Jamil, a Twitter user said, on Khan’s poster with Merkel.

One user even called it “Pakistan’s gold medal”.

Another hit out at Khan, saying, “when you have nothing to show as your achievement and most of your promises backfired.”

“That’s the highest level of embarrassment by PTI social media. Shame on you,” said Hassan Saleem.

Some even asked Khan and the PTI to “calm down”, reminding that they are now overcompensating for not receiving the Biden phone call.

“Ye Biden ko jalaanay ki koshish ker rahay hain? Sab mujh se baat kerna chahtay Hain bachu, I don’t care about you…except that I do Yaar”, said Z. Zulqarnain Sahi.

One Iftikhar Butt referred this poster diplomacy as “Naya Pakistan’s celebration”

Another user Ali Rana, said, “I received a telephone call from the bank that I haven’t paid the car instalment.”

“These illustrative tweets are making it look like Pakistan is desperate! These are normal communications between countries, not badges of honour,” Fifi Haroon, a London-based journalist said.