Prime Minister Imran Khan has been receiving congratulatory phone calls left, right, and center ever since he took office. The latest addition to this list has become embroiled in a bit of a controversy.
So what happened was that during a call made by U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, while congratulations were in due order, certain contradicting statements issued by both countries has stirred the pot.
The U.S. foreign office made a few claims in their latest press release which seemed seriously questionable
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed new Pakistani PM Imran Khan in a phone call to take “decisive action” against “terrorists” operating in Pakistan.
Pompeo wished Khan for success 🤔🤔so was that call to wish him or to tell him to work now?:1 https://t.co/PWKv53gG1i— Dr Humma Saeef (@HummaSaif) August 23, 2018
The Spokesperson for the U.S. Secretary of State told the American media that Mike Pompeo had a telephone conversation with PM Imran Khan and congratulated him for his victory in the general elections. The two political figureheads discussed political agendas briefly as well, and everything went well between them.
.@SecPompeo spoke today with #Pakistan‘s Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI. The Secretary wished him success and expressed his willingness to work with the new govt towards a productive bilateral relationship. pic.twitter.com/74kPTLlDq1
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 23, 2018
As per Mike Pompeo, he had discussed the will to work with Imran Khan to completely eradicate terrorist groups and hideouts in Pakistan.
For long, the statement didn’t seem out of the ordinary: The U.S. talking about war on terrorism. It didn’t feel like anything out of the ordinary. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan’s Foreign office stepped forward with a completely different statement regarding the official phone call.
As per PM Imran Khan, no conversation around terrorism in Pakistan had been made and he demanded that the U.S. Foreign Office amend the mistake as soon as possible
Dont try to dictate us this is not old Pakistan.Understand?Pakistan rejected US State Dept statement on a telephone call between Mike Pompeu and PM @ImranKhanPTI Pakistani Foreign office spokesperson said Pompeu just congratulated our PM nothing about terrorism was discussed pic.twitter.com/yOZ936pZy1
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) August 23, 2018
Mir Saab ain’t got no chill!
Obviously, the U.S. Foreign Office was not just going to sit there and take the blame so they retaliated as quickly as possible
US saying we stand by our statement Pakistan saying your statement is incorrect only the recording of phone call between Pakistani PM and US Secretary of State can clarify the situation but it may create a bigger crises anyhow Pakistan is not taking pressure https://t.co/V6Ge5zRjEU
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) August 24, 2018
Following the entire political debacle, Pakistanis are pissed as hell and are supporting Imran Khan’s outright rejection of the claims made by the U.S.
#Pompeo #PM Khan telephone call is now an embarrassing spat. Pak FO stand that State Dept issued false statement is rejected by State Dept. PM office MUST release call transcript fr everyone to know who said what. PM Imran MUST direct it personally. pic.twitter.com/ezNWrESZzN
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) August 24, 2018
People of Pakistan are demanding for the U.S office to issue an apology ASAP.
Putting words in #Pakistan ‘s mouth is a No-No…!
Washington must rectify ‘misleading’ statement immediately
1.)@ForeignOfficePk should’ve directed #Pompeo to @SMQureshiPTI
2.)Qureshi sb has to lead from the front now
~ Remind the U.S WMD never existed in Iraq#PMImranKhan pic.twitter.com/iKk1xEQ9a3— Faeza Dawood (@FaezaDawood) August 23, 2018
Disgraceful behaviour by the @StateDept. If you can misrepresent a simple telephone call then what else are you doing around the world with regards to info. US is fast losing credibility Around the world & such actions are not going to win any favours with the People of Pakistan.
— Anjum Kiani (@AnjumKiani) August 23, 2018
Disgraceful behaviour by the @StateDept. If you can misrepresent a simple telephone call then what else are you doing around the world with regards to info. US is fast losing credibility Around the world & such actions are not going to win any favours with the People of Pakistan.
— Anjum Kiani (@AnjumKiani) August 23, 2018
People are equally proud of Prime Minister Imran Khan standing his ground and retorting against the claim of Pakistan harboring terrorist groups
That’s a tactic to check whether new PM Imran Khan is the puppet of America as Nwaz sharif, but As Imran khan Slapped Pompeo, You have your Answer!
No Embarrassment for Pakiatan, but Pride!— Babar Shah Mashwani (@BabarShah14) August 24, 2018
Naya Pakistan is playing out in all of its glory, and Pakistanis couldn’t be happier
This should’ve been the headline today!
Bravo!#PrimeMinisterImranKhan #PMImranKhan #Pakistan#America #Pompeo #ForeignOffice https://t.co/yW4DfCAkfu— Zaryab Malik (@zaryabazramalik) August 23, 2018
It can be said to be a historical statement for Pakistan.
US will think twice next time before mis-stating. Pakistan is not puppet nation anymore.
— Furkaan Ali Khan (@furkaankhan) August 24, 2018
Clearly the US Spokesperson seems to be in a difficult situation standing by what hasn’t been discussed in real but was supposedly their SOP. IMF or not, Pakistan is on the course to #change for good. InShaAllah #powertoIK
— Abdullah Tariq (@abdullahtaq) August 24, 2018
Pakistanis have come up with a solution to put an end to the confusion: release the recording of the call for the masses
Let’s release the audio then
— Zubair Abid (@ZubairAbidSays) August 24, 2018
But we can expect that #PMImranKhan can public the call recording.
This will be really damaging for US. @ImranKhanPTI is a clear man.— ahsan ali (@ahsan_ali111) August 24, 2018
I mean it might damage the credibility and trust which exists between the two political entities, but so far that seems to be the only way out of the mess.
It shouldn’t be a big deal as the conversation has been recorded, RELEASE IT. No more bullying or bullshit to take. PERIOD. #Pakistan #US #Pompeo
— Nida 🇨🇦💚❤️🇵🇰 (@RandomnesInnate) August 24, 2018
While all of this plays out and both governments decide what to do, we can’t help but wonder who is at fault. One of the parties is at fault, now let’s just hope it’s not us.
In the meantime, let us know what do you think about this matter? Who could be at fault in this situation? Will it be wise to release the audio recording? Do share your take on the matter.
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