This refers to your editorial, “Imran’s Pakistan” (July 27). In the past there have been 18 Prime Ministers in Pakistan, including three-time leader Nawaz Sharif. No Prime Minister could complete his term. They were either assassinated or deposed by the Army.
There have been long spells of military rule and irrespective of whether there was a civilian or a military Government, Pakistan Army has all along been dictating the country’s policies.
Though on knowing his prospects of becoming the Prime Minister, Imran Khan has talked of dialogue with India but during electioneering, he spewed venom against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also accused Nawaz Sharif of appeasing India. He raked Kashmir as the “core issue” but didn’t speak a word about terror.
For India, cross-border terrorism is the core issue and India’s stand is clear that no dialogue is possible till terror emanating from Pakistan continues.
With the Army calling the shots, no change in Pakistan’s India-policy is expected anytime soon. The reassuring aspect of Pakistan election was peoples’ rejection of all candidates fielded by the extremist and terrorist organisations under new banners as a part of military’s effort to induct such elements into the political mainstream.