Imran Khan Criticizes Pakistani Army Chief's Afghan Policy

Lahore, Sep 9 (PTI) – Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, has criticized Army Chief Asim Munir, labeling his Afghan policy as flawed and accusing him of destabilizing regional peace. Khan, now 72 and a former cricket star turned politician, has been incarcerated for over two years across several cases. His political party asserts that his only 'crime' was opposing the influential military establishment.

"In his attempt to appease factions opposing the current Afghan government, Asim Munir is, due to his short-sightedness, dismantling the regional peace we had once cultivated," Khan commented on social media. "While we should be nurturing strong ties, we're actually exacerbating the situation," he reflected.

With concern, Khan remarked on the plight of Afghans being forced to leave Pakistan after decades of sanctuary, particularly following the recent earthquake that struck Afghanistan. "Instead of helping them, we're expelling them," he lamented.

Khan instructed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to visit Afghanistan, engage in dialogue, and address mutual challenges affecting peace and security, which might prevent further deterioration.

He questioned the legitimacy of Shehbaz Sharif's government, arguing that if Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz can travel internationally to Japan and Thailand, there should be no restrictions on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister traveling to Afghanistan for the sake of his province's peace.

Khan views the military actions, drone attacks, and forced displacements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as strategies intended to weaken the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s governance, which was established through public mandate. "Chief Minister Gandapur must resist this operation firmly," he declared.

He highlighted the compounded struggles of the local populace, already affected by floods, warning that continued military interventions would unfairly burden them and escalate terrorism. "Ending these operations is crucial, or else their suffering and instances of terrorism will only grow," he emphasized.

Khan further lamented his solitary confinement, noting that he has been denied visits from family, lawyers, and political allies for over a year and a half. "To Asim Munir, my message is clear — your attempts to pressure me or imprison my family will not break my resolve. I will persist in my quest for genuine freedom," Khan declared.

The