Who is analyst Rebecca Grant?

A video clip of US National Security and Defence analyst Rebecca Grant has sparked a new debate on Twitter which is being described as “proof of foreign conspiracy” to oust Imran Khan from the prime minister’s office.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also shared the video, saying that Rebecca Grant’s remarks in a Fox News show removed “all doubts” regarding his allegation that he was ousted from the prime minister’s office last month through a US-sponsored “foreign conspiracy” due to his pursuance of an independent foreign policy for Pakistan.

If anyone had any doubts abt US regime change conspiracy this video should remove all doubts as to why a democratically elected PM & his govt were removed. Clearly the US wants an obedient puppet as PM who will not allow Pak choice of neutrality in a European war; pic.twitter.com/rqFW8yQRvZ

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 2, 2022

Who is Rebecca Grant?

Dr Grant is a contributor for Fox News and provides analysis on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as national and military-related topics. She is also the president of an independent research firm named IRIS that specialises in defence and aerospace.

According to IRIS website, she has previously worked for US government’s think tank RAND Corporation and on the staff of the secretary of the US Air Force and its chief of staff.

Her military books include The B-2 Goes to War, The First 600 Days, and Battle-Tested: Aircraft Carriers in Afghanistan and Iraq and over 100 articles for Air Force Magazine on-air operations, technology trends, airpower history and great airmen. 

Grant graduated from Wellesley College and earned a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Her PhD work was on Eisenhower’s nuclear strategy.

Rebecca’s remarks

Rebecca Grant was asked in a Fox News programme what the US message to Pakistan should be. To this, she said: “Pakistan needs to support Ukraine, stop looking for deals with Russia right now, limit their involvement with China, and stop the anti-American policies that are part of the reason that Imran Khan, the prime minister, got voted out of office a couple of weeks ago.

“So, it’s time to cool it on the anti-American, pro-Russia policies in Pakistan. Now is not the time,” she concluded.

PTI leaders’ stance

Soon after the video went viral on social media, several PTI leaders and supporters stepped onto the bandwagon.

Need more proof of US regime change conspiracy against elected PM IK for not kowtowing before US demands? Admission by US National Security & Defense analyst Dr Rebecca Grant that US had a role in ousting Imran Khan thru VoNC. #امپورٹڈ__حکومت__نامنظور @OfficialDGISPR pic.twitter.com/fyOehRbrHk

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 2, 2022

Among them was former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, who wrote: “Need more proof of US regime change conspiracy against elected PM [Imran Khan] for not kowtowing before US demands? Admission by US National Security [and] Defense analyst Dr Rebecca Grant that US had a role in ousting Imran Khan [through vote of no-confidence].

Reactions

Economic expert Uzair Yonus shared Mazari’s tweet, mocking the former minister for “arriving at a conclusion”.

“Watching Fox and making conclusions about US policy is akin to the US watching Zaid Hamid and some “defence analysts” on random Pak channels to make conclusions about Pakistan’s policies towards the West,” he wrote.

Watching Fox and making conclusions about US policy is akin to the US watching Zaid Hamid and some “defence analysts” on random Pak channels to make conclusions about Pakistan’s policies towards the West… https://t.co/F6Ujw6qMnc

— Uzair Younus عُزیر یُونس (@UzairYounus) May 2, 2022

Writer Bina Shah also took to her Twitter, saying: “This is Fox News, the same channel that promotes Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry, approved of the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, favoured waterboarding, calls Muslims terrorists at regular intervals etc. etc.”

“Now suddenly they’re credible??” she wrote.

This is Fox News, the same channel that promotes Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry, approved of the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, favored waterboarding, calls Muslims terrorists at regular intervals etc. etc. Now suddenly they’re credible?? https://t.co/aeOTCxmHMG

— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) May 2, 2022