Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has revealed that his country's ex-Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa urged him to condemn Russia after Moscow launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February last year.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief stated this in a televised public address on Monday.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief stated this in a televised public address on Monday.
Khan, who was ousted from power through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, said that he had successfully negotiated a deal with President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to Moscow, who agreed to sell fuel and wheat to Pakistan at similar rates Russia had agreed with the Indian government.
However, when he returned to Pakistan, instead of lauding him, Gen. Bajwa demanded Khan come out against Russia.
"I told the former army chief that India, a strategic ally of the US, was staying neutral and Pakistan should also not get involved in the [conflict] between two countries," Khan said. "With the support of Russia, India reduced its inflation from 7.5 percent to 5.5 percent, but Pakistan’s inflation rate rose from 12 percent to 30 percent."
He further mentioned that when General Bajwa realized that his suggestion wouldn't be complied with, the then-army chief went on to slam Russia himself in order to be in the good books of the US during a security summit.
Last week, Khan dubbed Bajwa "Super King," suggesting that the then-army chief controlled all facets of the Pakistani state - from foreign affairs, to domestic policy, to the economy, to its defense budget.
He also accused Gen. Bajwa of conspiring against his government from 2018 to 2022.
"Whatever happened, now as things unfold, it wasn’t the US who told Pakistan [to oust me]. It was unfortunately, from what evidence has come up, [former COAS] General Bajwa who somehow managed to tell the Americans that I was anti-American," Khan said during the weekend.
"And so, [the plan to oust me] was not imported from there. It was exported from here to there," he concluded.