INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The PTI chief said though he is more "more optimistic" than hasbeen in his 22 years in politics
(File)Karachi: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has said that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif tried to improve the Indo-Pak
relations but the "aggressive anti-Pakistan posture" of the Indian government resulted in the current stalemate between the two
neighbours.The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief, whose party appears to be gaining ground ahead of the July 25 elections, also said that
the key to the Prime Minister House lies in understanding the country's complex political realities."Sharif tried his best (to mend
relations with India)," Mr Khan told the Dawn newspaper in an interview."Sharif tried everything, even personal (gestures) like calling him
(Narendra Modi) over to his house
But I think it is the policy of the Narendra Modi government to try and isolate Pakistan
They have a very aggressive anti-Pakistan postureWhat can one do in the face of this attitude" the 65-year-old leader added.Prime Minister
Modi visited Pakistan in December 2015 but the terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists in Pathankot in January 2016 and then in Uri in
September strained the ties between the two countries.Commenting on the military's influence in Pakistan's foreign policy, Mr Khan said,
"The army will get involved where there are security situations
If you look at the US policy in Afghanistan, a lot of the US-Afghan policy was influenced by Pentagon
Even when (President) Barack Obama did not want to continue the war in Afghanistan, he did it because he was convinced by
Pentagon."Pakistan's powerful military has always played a crucial role in the country's politics
The army has ruled Pakistan for more than 33 years of the country's 70-year history."We have had military influence on politics in Pakistan
because we have had the worst political governments
I am not saying it is justified but where there is a vacuum, something will fill it," he said.Mr Khan said that under crooked and corrupt
governments, people welcome the military with open arms, and cited the example of a bloodless coup by the then army chief Gen Pervez
Musharraf in 1999 when people celebrated the ouster of the Sharif government by the military.Talking about the importance of manpower and
financial resources for a successful election campaign, Mr Khan said, "This is not Europe, where all you need to do is tell people what you
stand for and they will go out and vote for you
In Pakistan, you need money and thousands of trained polling agents who can bring out people on the day of election
If you do not have those workers, you cannot contest the election."The PTI chief said though he is more "more optimistic" than has been in
his 22 years in politics, he cannot vouch for each of the near 700 national and provincial-level candidates his party has fielded to contest
the upcoming elections, he is playing with what exists in Pakistan's political class."You contest elections to win
You don't contest elections to be a good boy
I am fighting elections in Pakistan, not Europe
I can't import European politicians," he said.
