Pakistani fears over Donald Trump's return to the White House are unfounded, a former federal minister for national security and ex-minister for defence production said.
Trump's victory in Tuesday's US election sparked debate in Pakistani over his expected call for the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The PTI accused outgoing US President Joe Biden's administration of colluding with elements within Pakistan to overthrow Khan's government in 2022.
Major powers rarely change their foreign policies with a change of government, former Pakistani defence secretary and retired lieutenant general Naeem Khalid Lodhi told Sputnik India.
But Trump’s commitment to reducing wars will provide some respite to countries like Pakistan, Lodhi said.
“The Pakistani Foreign Office’s pre-emptive statement of non-interference is premature and belies the fear of the incumbent government regarding the Trump-Imran Khan 'friendship',” he added. “Fingers crossed, as Trump is quite unpredictable.”
Pakistan understands the global importance of China, Russia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the BRICS group of emerging economies, he argued, and its diplomatic focus is likely to be in that direction regardless of US expectations.
Constraints on building strong relationships with Russia and China remain, including Pakistan's heavy reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Pakistani diaspora in the Middle East, Western Europe, and North America, along with its trade partnerships and educational affiliations, Lodhi cautioned.
But Pakistan can overcome those challenges with support from China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others, the pundit said.