With Donald Trump’s recent election victory, some PTI supporters in Pakistan believe he might show interest in freeing Imran Khan, whom Trump once referred to as a “good friend.” Many in the Pakistani-American community think Trump’s second term could bring attention to the former prime minister’s situation, recalling Trump’s meetings with Khan at the White House and other events during his previous term.
PTI-affiliated journalists in Pakistan view Trump’s win as a potential turning point and suggest it may revive discussions around the alleged regime change operation. They hope Trump will influence Imran Khan’s release.
However, Michael Kugelman, Director of Foreign Policy, downplayed the idea, suggesting that Trump’s interactions with Khan were more strategic, aimed at facilitating Taliban talks to start the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Kugelman also noted that Trump didn’t mention Imran Khan during his campaign, implying that the former Pakistani prime minister may not be a priority for Trump in his new term.
