Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has stated that American policies are not formulated on social media and that it is a mistake to think that a phone call from American officials will solve everything.
He added that the United States does not shape its policies based on social media trends and expressed his personal wish that PTI founder Imran Khan be released.
Speaking to a local news channel on Wednesday, he said: “People mistakenly believe that American officials can make one phone call and fix everything. On human rights issues, American representatives often issue statements, but those statements have never led to the liberation of anyone”.
The former ambassador to the United States further recalled that during Yousaf Raza Gillani’s tenure as Prime Minister, he had held meetings with senior American officials in connection with the Dr Aafia Siddiqui case. However, the United States refused to advance discussions about his release.
Earlier, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had denied any allegation of pressure and stated that the US does not exert any influence on Pakistan regarding the release of Imran Khan. “I don’t think the United States is putting any pressure on Imran Khan’s release. State-to-state relations go beyond these issues and social media posts,” he said.
