New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “praise” for India’s foreign policy seems to have disappointed many people in the country, with leader of opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif terming it “the most bizarre statement to date”, adding that “India, particularly under Modi, has accused Pakistan of terrorism, opposed CPEC & hurt our interests globally. It has robbed Kashmiris of their statehood”.
While delivering his public address in Dargai area of Malakand Sunday, Khan lauded India for having an “independent foreign policy” that was favourable to people of India, Dawn reported.
Many Pakistanis have expressed displeasure and outrage over Khan’s statement. While one called him out for becoming the “Darling of Indian media”, another said “I think imran khan have lost his mind”.
Urdu news reporter and editor Waseem Abbasi shamed the Pakistani prime minister for becoming a “Fan of India”, while another journalist warned that soon the PM may declare himself as “a fan of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari”. Abbasi went a step further and claimed that “Modi will benefit from this statement in next elections”.
During a panel discussion on the issue on Capital Talk, a show hosted by journalist Hamid Mir for Geo News channel, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Parliamentary Leader Khalid Magsi said, “If India’s foreign policy is really “independent”, that you find laudable, then what’s happening in Kashmir. With such a situation in Kashmir, it was inappropriate for Imran Khan to declare India’s foreign policy neutral and praise it because what India is doing in Kashmir is very condemnable”.
Mir, in another tweet, wrote, “If India’s foreign policy is very good then why did you call Modi Hitler? Why are you convening an OIC meeting on March 23? In this meeting, do you have to condemn India’s oppression in Kashmir or pay tribute to India? Who do you want to please?”.
بڑے ادب سے ایک سوال ہے کہ اگر ہندوستان کی خارجہ پالیسی بہت اچھی ہے تو پھر آپ نے مودی کو ہٹلر کیوں کہا؟ آپ 23 مارچ کو او آئی سی کا اجلاس کیوں بلا رہے ہیں ؟کیا اس اجلاس میں آپ نے کشمیر میں ہندوستان کے ظلم وستم کی مذمت کرنی ہے یا ہندوستان کو داد دینی ہے؟ آپ کس کو خوش کرنا چاہتے ہیں؟ pic.twitter.com/lZ5ycfLypA
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) March 21, 2022
In a report titled PM Imran Khan is all praises for India’s foreign policy, Geo News wrote, “The Indian media is giving wide coverage to — and celebrating — Imran Khan’s statement, with his remarks making headlines in Indian print and electronic media”.
Daily Jang columnist Saleem Khan Safi also condemned Imran and wrote, “What would have happened to him if he had not declared this compliment of India by someone else, but look at the arrogance of this gentleman that after handing over Occupied Kashmir to India, he is now praising India’s foreign policy in meetings and giving this impression. That India wants to overthrow his government”.
انڈیا کی یہ تعریف کوئی اورکرتا توغدار ڈیکلئیر کرکےنہ جانے ان کا کیا حشر کیا جاتا لیکن اس صاحب کی ڈھٹائی دیکھ لیں کہ مقبوضہ کشمیر انڈیا کے حوالے کرنے کے بعد اب جلسوں میں انڈیا کی خارجہ پالیسی کی تعریفیں کرتا پھررہا ہے اور ساتھ یہ تاثر دے رہا ہے کہ انڈیا ان کی حکومت گرانا چاہتا ہے https://t.co/EnnqJiV2kO
— Saleem Safi (@SaleemKhanSafi) March 21, 2022