KARACHI: A senior US lawmaker, Brad Sherman has revealed that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured him of his goodwill towards the United States.
Sherman, who is a Democrat Congressman from California and the chief negotiator of the US-Taliban deal, rejected any suggestion that he or his team supports Mr. Khan’s campaign for regaining power.
In an interview to VOA Urdu, Sherman said that during a recent telephone call between the two politicians, Khan told Sherman that he believes in the rule of law and wants good relations with the United States. Sherman also confirmed that he spoke with Khan regarding his concerns over alleged human rights violations in Pakistan.
Sherman’s comments come in the wake of a letter he sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to use all diplomatic channels to urge Pakistani authorities to investigate the alleged abuses and hold those responsible accountable.
It’s worth noting that former US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad also recently released several tweets condemning alleged human rights violations in Pakistan and calling for fresh elections. However, he rejected the impression that he was lobbying for Imran Khan.
Historically, the US has been keen to maintain good relations with Pakistan, which has been an important player in the region, particularly in Afghanistan. With human rights violations and election rigging allegations being leveled against the Pakistani government, the US seems to be vocal in its criticism and is keen to see the situation improve.
