Imran Khan: Open to Dialogue, Calls for Military Cooperation

Imran Khan, Pakistan's jailed former prime minister, has stated that it would be 'foolish' not to maintain an excellent relationship with the military, despite blaming it for his ouster. Ahead of his imprisonment anniversary, Khan expressed willingness for conditional negotiations with the army, highlighting the importance of transparent elections.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, asserted on Sunday that it would be 'foolish' not to cultivate an excellent relationship with the military, despite his accusations of it orchestrating his ouster and imprisonment. In written responses to Reuters, Khan also relayed that he bears no grudge against the United States, which he accused of complicity in his 2022 removal from office.

'Given Pakistan's geographical position and the military's significant role in the private sector, it would be foolish not to foster such a relationship,' Khan wrote. Emphasizing his respect for the armed forces, he stated that his critiques were aimed at individuals, not the institution as a whole.

Khan, now 71 and a former cricket star, proposed 'conditional negotiations' with the military, contingent on 'clean and transparent' elections and the dropping of 'bogus' charges against his supporters. Pakistan's army and government have not yet commented on Khan's recent statements, consistently denying his claims about his ouster.

(With inputs from agencies.)