Washington — As Donald Trump comes closer to winning a possible second term as the U.S. president, speculation among many Pakistanis are about the impact of his re-election on the fate of former Prime Minister Imran Khan who has been incarcerated since August last year. Supporters of Khan believe Trump could someday influence this for Khan which is what gives a sense of hope with Trump potentially coming back into power.
This optimism is based on the connection between Trump and Khan during his first term. He met with the two leaders several times, including at a high-profile meeting at the White House where Trump called Khan a “good friend.” The friendship between the two of them was well announced by the two, with Trump praising Khan for all he did to bring peace and stability to South Asia. The basis for Trump’s admiration of Khan seemed to stem from their mutual interest in negotiating with the Afghan Taliban, a goal for the U.S. as it looked for an exit strategy in the long-stalled Afghan war. Khan moved from a public spat with Trump in the past to now doing exactly what Trump’s public statements on him suggested: Khan agreeing with Tony on exports right as they were negotiating all of this—intensifying the status that Khan did help broker this—is a powerful and savvy move.
Even with those links, analysts doubt that Trump will prioritize Khan’s detention if he wins a second term. Trump’s first presidential term included a lot of diplomacy, but officials say the motives were based on U.S. foreign policy goals, not personal loyalty to foreign leaders. Trump may have appreciated Khan’s help with the negotiations in Afghanistan, but experts say it is highly improbable that will intervene directly in Pakistan’s legal affairs, especially since Khan is charged with a multitude of things that are mostly within the confines of Pakistani law.
Khan is considered a hero of sorts among numerous Pakistani-Americans, and has a significant following among more broadly in the diaspora, leading to calls for U.S. support to be offered on his behalf. Tributes to Khan, including what social media witnessed as a barrage of posts from her supporters, asking Trump and other leaders of the West to condemn what they consider politically motivated charges against Khan. However, it would be very difficult to keep up this stance with Trump on board and a lot of people believe that there is enough diplomatic pressure on Pakistan government to review the detaining of Khan.
While some of Imran Khan’s supporters hope Donald Trump’s potential return could aid in Khan’s release, campaign observers note that Trump hasn’t addressed Khan’s situation. The former president’s campaign remains focused on domestic issues like immigration, the economy, and national security. His “America First” approach suggests he may avoid involvement in foreign judicial matters, especially complex cases like Khan’s in Pakistan.
Experts caution that while Trump’s re-election could give Khan’s supporters a sense of hope, expectations should be tempered. For any real progress, Khan would likely need aligned support from Pakistan’s judiciary, government, and possibly other international allies willing to engage Pakistan on human rights issues.
Ultimately, even with Trump back in office, there’s no guarantee this would lead to a shift in Khan’s legal situation. However, Trump’s return could boost morale among Khan’s followers, potentially adding momentum to their advocacy efforts.
