I am in regular touch on whatsApp with a Pakistani lady from Lahore, whom I call ‘Lahore waali’ in lighter vein on Twitter.
Recently I sent her this whatsApp message :
” Imran Khan reminds me of a story.
A man told his friend that his father was a very brave man, who once fought with a tiger.
His friend asked ” What happened then ? “.
The man replied ” What could happen ? The tiger tore him up and ate him up “
Imran Khan is like that brave man, & the US Govt is like that tiger “.
I also sent her this link :
She promptly replied :
” I look at it this way: there is always a thin line between bravery and foolishness. If Imran had been the typical smart politician then he would have countinued the usual dealing under the table with Army and Americans. He would have continued in the political musical chairs like the average politician who are a dime a dozen in Pakistan.
The fact that he is unusual is the reason he is noticed by the public and he has a track record as a philanthropist and an upright leader with integrity spanning some 30-40 years. The masses appreciate bravery even though it is foolish specially when it comes from someone who has stood by them on the ground, most notably in providing free healthcare in a country where doctors usually advise to let the patient die because it is a matter of spending money on a patient who is going to die anyway due to advanced age or lack of financial means.
So he is the only leader for whom people have reported pilgrims crying and praying at The Kaaba in Mecca. They feel he is connected to them “.
To this I responded :
” Please permit me to clarify my opinion. I never said Imran Khan should have done under the table dealings with America and the Pakistan army.
But should he have given such strong and indiscrete statements against the American Govt, saying that it forced the Pakistan Govt to send 80,000 Pakistani soldiers to death in Afghanistan, made Pakistanis slaves to America, and martyred ( made shaheed ) Osama bin Laden ?
Even if those were his sincere opinions, could he not have remained silent, knowing that they were sure to antagonize the Americans if publicly proclaimed ?
Please read this article of mine
Sun Tzu, in his book ‘The Art of War’ wrote :
” In war, avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak “.
Imran Khan foolishly went against this maxim, and see the consequences “.
She then messaged me :
” Justice Katju
Thank you for sending me your views.
However, recent political developments in the United States indicate a major shift in their foreign policy. President Trump and his incoming administration, including Vice President JD Vance, have openly criticized the Biden administration’s approach toward Pakistan. They have acknowledged that Biden’s interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs was a mistake—one that contributed to the erosion of democratic institutions and supported non-representative forces.
Their policy corrections suggest a departure from interventionist strategies, favoring instead support for legitimate, publicly mandated leadership. This aligns with the broader “No War” doctrine that is emerging as part of a new U.S. foreign policy direction. Rather than engaging in regime manipulations, the U.S. is now moving toward a realist approach that recognizes national sovereignty and domestic democratic choices.
Given this shift, the premise of your article—questioning whether Imran Khan should have taken a more diplomatic stance with the U.S.—now seems outdated. The U.S. itself appears to be acknowledging past miscalculations and is pivoting toward a more neutral and constructive engagement with Pakistan.
In light of these developments, I believe a revised discussion that takes into account these geopolitical shifts would be more relevant and impactful. If you would like, I’d be happy to collaborate on refining the article to reflect these new realities.
Looking forward to your thoughts “.
To which I replied :
” Mere statements mean nothing. Trump has made lots of statements since he came to power, like conquering Canada, Greenland, and Panama, but not all of them can be taken seriously
Let us keep our fingers crossed and see what he does in deeds.
Justice Katju “
