He may want friendly relations with India, but would find himself hemmed in by the giveandtake of negotiations
Having set course for the prime minister house, Imran Khan lowered his voice at one point during a televised address — almost appearing hurt — to say he was troubled that over the past several days Indian TV channels were painting him as some sort of a “Bollywood villain”. This, he said, despite the fact that he had many friends in India due to his cricketing ties. He later said that India and Pakistan need to improve their relations, benefit from trade opportunities, and address a common curse: poverty. There was one caveat: the peaceful resolution of the “core” issue of Kashmir first.
As opposition parties, which lost the election, were protesting against Khan’s victory and attributing it to rigging that, they alleged, happened mostly during the counting of ballots and results tabulation, the PTI leader was making his first address to the nation.
He looked prime ministerial. His tone was so measured that few were familiar with it, at least given his language and mannerism since he refused to accept the 2013 election results, which gave the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) a huge win.
When eventually the Panama Papers weakened Sharif and his troubles compounded after falling out with the military reportedly over differences about national security policy priorities, Khan’s petition to the Supreme Court to inquire how the PM’s family came to own undeclared properties in London’s expensive Mayfair district acquired greater significance.
It was this petition that resulted in the former PM’s disqualification from holding office last April followed by his and daughter Maryam Nawaz’s sentencing to prison terms by an Islamabad court earlier this month. The court tried both under the Supreme Court’s supervision. Having promised to construct five million low-cost homes for the poor and provide 10 million jobs during his term in office, he will assume office carrying a burden of expectation at a time when higher oil prices, a trade and current account deficit, dwindling forex reserves and a fast-depreciating currency will test his economic team’s skills.
He may want friendly relations with India and may be well-placed to start a dialogue, given that he will enjoy the military’s support, with the hardliners in Delhi, but may find himself cramped in the give-and-take that must happen in any negotiations.
