At last, former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who has been accusing the USA of plotting his ouster from the government through the no-trust motion moved against his government in the National Assembly,  on Tuesday confirmed media reports that former US diplomat Robin Raphel had called on him at his residence in Banigala, Islamabad couple of days ago, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

He said he knew Raphel, who, he said, was not part of the President Joe Biden administration, but was associated with a think-tank.  

He reiterated his stance that Pakistan’s relations with the USA should be cordial, but not at the cost of the former’s sovereignty and self-esteem. “I don’t want my country to be used by any other country,” he said, and added, “There are always issues in relations between two countries. But these are resolved too. This does not mean that they should sever ties with each other for good.” 

He clarified he had no issues with the USA.    

For two days, PTI chairman’s meeting with the ex-US diplomat remained shrouded in mystery as he kept avoiding answering the questions put by media men on the subject.  

Earlier, despite the fact that there are reports that former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, whose US bashing has been making headlines ever since he was ousted from power through the vote of no-trust on April 10, 2022, had met with former US diplomat Robin Raphel at his Banigala residence in Islamabad couple of days ago, still he is neither confirming it nor rejecting it; hence keeping all and sundry in the dark.

And when he was asked about melting of the ice between him and the world’s sole superpower by the journalists at a court in Islamabad yesterday, he only deemed it sufficient to say, ‘Men buht khatarnak hogya hun,’ (I have become deadlier).    

Senior PTI leader and his spokesman Fawad Chaudhry, on the other hand, is seen giving justifications for the meeting in his interactions with the media, but is still falling short of either confirming it or rejecting it. 

It is interesting to note here that despite all anti-US rhetoric, PTI has only recently hired the services of a firm for lobbying in the US; the country’s ambassador was also welcomed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).   

It is in everybody’s knowledge that PTI has been openly accusing the USA of funding its political opponents for moving no-trust motion against its government. 

The party even cites a letter received from the country in which those calling the shots in the country were told to change the regime.

But the reports coming from sources, on the other hand, point towards a détente between him and the US, which will only be credible once the former prime minister confirm them.   

Reporter: Saud Butt