PTI’s ‘Trump Card’ for Imran Khan’s release falls apart

ISLAMABAD: The recent praise of US President Donald Trump for the Pakistani government has put a damper on Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) hope for getting their leader Imran Khan released from the jail by using the “Trump Card”.

PTI had pinned great hopes after Donald Trump was elected as US President that he would “pressurize” the Pakistani establishment for the release of his “friend” Imran Khan. The hope was further enhanced when Richard Grenell, a close confidante of Donald Trump, demanded the release of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Trump thanks Pakistan for apprehending Kabul airport bomber 

The message gained further momentum when Matt Gaetz, another Republican and a former Trump nominee for attorney general, also wrote, “Free Imran Khan”.

However, today’s praise by Trump for the Pakistani government in front of the Congress for capturing the Abbey Gate bomber suggests a different reality.

After announcing the arrest, Trump thanked the Pakistani government for its role in the operation. “I want to thank, especially, the Pakistani government for helping arrest this monster,” he said. He also described it as “a very huge day for the affected families.”

According to analysts, by thanking Pakistan, Trump has acknowledged cooperation with the current Pakistani government rather than challenging it.

This could indicate that, for now, his focus remains on counterterrorism and intelligence collaboration, not on intervening in Pakistan’s internal politics.