Former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, has stated that American policies are not formulated on social media, and it is a misconception that a phone call from US officials will resolve everything.
He added that the US does not shape its policies based on social media trends while expressing his personal desire for PTI founder Imran Khan to be released.
Speaking to a local news channel on Wednesday, he said, "People mistakenly believe that US officials can make a phone call and fix everything. On human rights issues, US representatives often issue statements, but such statements have never led to anyone's release."
The former ambassador to US further recalled that during Yousaf Raza Gillani's tenure as prime minister, he had held meetings with senior US officials regarding Dr Aafia Siddiqui's case. However, the US refused to progress discussions about her release.
Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had refuted any claims of pressure, saying that the US is not exerting any influence on Pakistan regarding Imran Khan's release. "I don't believe the US is putting any pressure on Imran Khan's release. State-to-state relations go beyond such matters and social media posts," he maintained.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ