Imran Khan was talking to me about his platform for political change in Pakistan, in an interview at the guest house of his former mother-in-law, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, which he uses while in London. He was banging on about change so much that I interrupted to joke: "Where is Pakistan's Obama?"
The 55-year old politician met this with a disapproving glance, before hastening to add: "I was there before Obama trying to do the same thing." Ouch.
Imran Khan is in London to talk to the International Institute of Strategic Studies about the "civil war" in Pakistan and his campaign for democracy. His own strategy consists of appealing to the younger generation of Pakistanis, both at home and abroad, to break out of the feudal mould of politics-as-usual. He believes that Pakistanis who have studied or worked in the UK or Middle East could shake things up if they get involved in politics back home. It could prove controversial, but he says that there are 6 million Pakistanis outside the country with the skills to make a difference. He'll be talking to students at University College London next Saturday.
if Imran disapproves being called Pakistan's Obama for being their for change before anyone, y not call obama as american khan :)
Posted by: Muhammad Junaid Aslam | Friday, 24 October 2008 at 08:19 AM
Obama's election to Presidency will prove crucial for Pakistan. He's neither an enemy nor a friend of Pakistan. He has threatened to engage in hot pursuit of terrorists hidding inside Pakistan while also providing non military aid to the country. So, I think his approach to Pakistan will be balanced and his measures will depend on how the situation evolves inside Pakistan. The country has been in the grip of army rule, directly or indirectly, since the beginning, which also led to the creation of militancy (commonly known as Mullah Military Alliance). It is the first time in history that the US has started to see the Pakistan army and its spy-wing ISI as the main culprit of ongoing terrorism in Afghanistan and the region. It seems that Obama administration will be seeking to curtail and contain the extraordinary powers of the army and its spy-wing ISI in the days to come and strengthen the foundations of democracy. If however this plan does not work out, then Pakistan is looking at a much worse future including deeper economic mess, social unrest, widespread lawlessness and eventual disintegration is certainly on the cards. I cannot see how Imran Khan, with no political base or vote bank, will fit in to this picture.
Posted by: Safdar Jafri | Wednesday, 05 November 2008 at 09:39 AM
wel maybeits god obama got in becasue he said some god things and he did say that kashmir is a problem that he would try to slove becuse it has cauesd many problems bewten india and pakistan.
Posted by: t khan | Thursday, 06 November 2008 at 12:06 PM
its good thing that obama was elected becsuae he did say that kashmir is the main problem bewten pakistan and india and he would help the kashmiris in the sloution of this old prolbem whichis realy bad news.
Posted by: m afzal | Thursday, 06 November 2008 at 12:08 PM
i think the indians liked macain bush policeis and espcaily that obama wants to put india on the spot by saying kashmir is a major problem bewten pakistan and india and he would try to slove this major problem.
Posted by: raja | Thursday, 06 November 2008 at 12:11 PM