Trump’s incoming envoy raises hopes of a ‘free Imran Khan’

*Former Trump official Richard Grenell has raised speculation over the incoming US administration’s approach to Pakistan

*US-Pakistan ties have historically been marked by distrust, intermittent strategic alliances and periods of relative indifference.

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration will take office next month but it’s already sparked fresh speculation on how the Republican-led government may recalibrate the US approach to Islamabad after years of indifference during Joe Biden’s administration.

Richard Grenell, Trump’s newly appointed envoy for special missions, has been at the forefront of the rhetoric through his words of support for Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Statements from Grenell, primarily on social media platform X, are causing a stir among Pakistan’s governing elite.

Privately, several leaders from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party told Middle East Eye that the expectation of potential support from the incoming Trump administration has put pressure on the Pakistani government and its military.

“Several factors, including the persistent protests by party supporters and fears of external pressure from the incoming US administration, amplified by the efforts of the party’s overseas chapter in the US, have compelled the government to initiate meaningful dialogue with us,” said a PTI core committee member in the capital Islamabad, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

On Monday, the first formal meeting between a government-appointed committee and PTI representatives took place in Islamabad, signalling a potential shift in the political deadlock.

The stir was triggered by posts where Grenell criticised Pakistan’s treatment of Khan, who was ousted in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote following a fallout with the country’s influential military.

On 26 November, Grenell tweeted “Release Imran Khan!” in response to a violent crackdown in Islamabad against PTI supporters demanding Khan’s release.

Khan’s legal troubles, resulting in over a year of incarceration and a crackdown on his party supporters, remains a contentious issue in Pakistan’s fragile democracy.

Initially drawing limited attention, Grenell’s statement gained momentum after Trump announced Grenell’s role as special envoy for global missions on 15 December. PTI supporters amplified Grenell’s message, deepening the debate over his influence.

On Monday, Grenell urged X’s owner Elon Musk, to extend Starlink satellite internet services to Pakistan. His request touched a nerve there, given the lack of reliable internet access in a country grappling with censorship and a ban on X itself, largely tied to the crackdown on Khan’s supporters, who wield outsized influence on social media platforms.

But the political climate grew more tense when, on Sunday, a military court sentenced 25 PTI activists to rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the 9 May riots, which included attacks on military installations.

The move drew a sharp response from the US State Department on Tuesday, expressing “deep concerns” over the use of military courts, citing concerns over their lack of judicial independence, transparency and due process.

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