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Richard Grenell, a key member of US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming team, has made another public statement demanding Imran Khan’s release from prison.
In an interview with the US digital platform Newsmax on Wednesday, Grenell sharply criticized the Biden administration’s policies toward Pakistan, particularly its handling of the country’s missile program and Imran Khan’s imprisonment.
Grenell, who has been named Trump’s ‘envoy for special missions,’ has gained significant attention in Pakistan for his outspoken comments over the past few weeks. His growing series of remarks, especially on social media, has sparked a renewed interest in Imran Khan’s case. Grenell has frequently tweeted in support of the imprisoned former prime minister, with his now-viral “Free Imran Khan!” tweet widely shared by PTI supporters.
In the Newsmax interview, Grenell emphasized the strong relationship between Pakistan and the Trump administration, particularly during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister. He noted, “Imran Khan was an outlier. He was a former cricket player who wasn’t a politician. He spoke in very common-sense language, and he and Donald Trump had a very good relationship.”
Grenell’s connection to Khan appears to be based on shared political values, with Grenell viewing Khan as a victim of authoritarianism. He pointed out that Khan’s “outsider status” was key to their connection, suggesting that non-politicians often make the best leaders. “I actually believe that having people from the outside, non-politicians, common-sense people, businesspeople are the ones that do best,” Grenell added, reflecting his belief in pragmatic leadership, a viewpoint also shared by Trump.
However, Grenell’s comments were not limited to praise for Khan. He criticized the politically motivated charges against the former prime minister, drawing parallels to Trump’s own legal struggles. He stated, “He is currently in prison (on) a lot of the same allegations, just like President Trump, where the ruling party put him in prison and created some corruption allegations and false allegations.”
Grenell’s vocal support for Khan has earned him a larger following on social media, particularly among PTI supporters. His influence has been rapidly growing, making him a popular figure among those advocating for Khan’s release.
The issue of Pakistan’s missile program has long been a point of tension between the US and Pakistan. Recently, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Pakistani entities linked to missile development. Grenell also addressed these tensions, criticizing the Biden administration for neglecting critical foreign policy issues regarding Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities until the final stages of its term. He argued, “Add Pakistan to the long list of subjects that Jake Sullivan and the Biden team have clearly decided they have to make progress on here, at the very end of the last 45 days, because they haven’t made progress in the last four years.”
Looking ahead, Grenell suggested that future Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be tasked with addressing issues like Pakistan’s missile and nuclear ambitions. “Obviously, if a country has nuclear weapons, it changes the position of how we deal with that. And Pakistan is one of those countries that has nuclear weapons.”
Grenell’s comments have also resonated strongly within Pakistan, where they have energized Imran Khan’s supporters. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqqas Akram and other party leaders praised the statements, expressing that anyone advocating for human rights would be welcomed. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan emphasized that the party seeks Khan’s freedom in line with the law and the Constitution and that they do not expect external interference.
The question now is whether Grenell’s statements reflect his personal views or will have a lasting impact on the Trump administration’s policies toward Pakistan. Many in Pakistan, particularly Khan’s supporters, are hopeful that Grenell’s growing influence and advocacy will result in a shift in US policy.
However, Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, cautioned that Grenell’s media statements should not be viewed as formal policy declarations. “Such statements have little impact on the situation on the ground and may not be sufficient to spring Imran Khan out,” Haqqani said.
