Foreign Policy Blogs

Why is Imran in Houston?

Imran Khan, a failed politician in Pakistan was in Houston recently. While there, his tone was totally different from what people hear him in Pakistan. When he speaks in Pakistan, he rails against the great Satan, America (according to him), but he selects his words carefully when he is in the States. Double standard? Yes, sure. Bigotry and hypocrisy? Of course!

It never amazes me to see absolutely strange and bizarre things in Pakistan, especially in Politics. But what I don’t understand is that how can anyone spew hate against a country day and night and when he gets an invitation, he gets on the first flight to be in the United States.

Actually, he is not the only one who blames America for everything bad in Pakistan, but the difference between rest of the folks and Imran is that Imran has been around the world, has studied in England, has lived in England and he should know better. But, for some reason, he refuses to be honest and realistic and continues to be vitriolic.

Not sure why was Imran invited to the States and more importantly, I am surprised that despite being a hate monger, Imran is granted the U.S. visa and he is allowed to enter the country again and again. I wish someone in Islamabad embassy or in Washington would have the guts to tell Imran to says thanks, but no thanks!

 

Author

Bilal Qureshi

Bilal Qureshi is a resident of Washington, DC, so it is only natural that he is tremendously interested in politics. He is also fascinated by the relationship between Pakistan, the country of his birth, and the United States of America, his adopted homeland. Therefore, he makes every effort to read major newspapers in Pakistan and what is being said about Washington, while staying fully alert to the analysis and the news being reported in the American press about Pakistan. After finishing graduate school, he started using his free time to write to various papers in Pakistan in an effort to clarify whatever misconceptions he noticed in the press, especially about the United States. This pastime became a passion after his letters were published in Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and his writing became more frequent and longer. Now, he is here, writing a blog about Pakistan managed by Foreign Policy Association.

Areas of Focus:
Taliban; US-Pakistan Relations; Culture and Society

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