New Delhi: Pakistans former prime minister, Imran Khan, who has spent the past 12 months in prison on various charges he deems false, emphasized on Sunday the importance of maintaining excellent relations with the countrys military. This comes ahead of the anniversary of his incarceration, marked by allegations ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets.Stance on relations with the militaryDespite his previous criticisms, Khan stated in written responses to Reuters that it would be foolish not to have strong relations with the military, given Pakistans strategic geographical position and the militarys significant role in the private sector. He asserted his pride in the countrys armed forces, clarifying that his critiques were aimed at specific individuals rather than the institution as a whole.Offer for conditional negotiationsKhan recently proposed conditional negotiations with the military, contingent on the occurrence of clean and transparent elections and the dismissal of what he considers bogus cases against his supporters. He highlighted the futility of engaging with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharifs coalition government, which he accuses of winning a rigged election in February, suggesting it would be more productive to engage with those holding actual power.Military and Government ResponseNeither the military nor the government has responded to Khans comments to Reuters. Both have consistently denied his claims, including the militarys alleged support for politically motivated cases against him. The military has previously ruled out talks with Khan, accusing him and his party of orchestrating attacks on military installations during protests against his detention.Position on the United States and Future DialogueKhan, who has also blamed the United States for his 2022 ouster, expressed no grudges towards the country in his responses. He reiterated his openness to dialogue aimed at improving Pakistans dire situation, provided he is released from jail. However, he dismissed the idea of an out-of-court settlement unless it acknowledged his partys victory in the alleged rigged election, which he described as the most fraudulent in Pakistans history.
