Former Pakistani diplomat Husain Haqqani has said that the belief that former US ambassador Donald Trump would take any action in support of PTI founder Imran Khan was “fundamentally misguided,” as Trump has only ever thought of himself.
While appearing on Aaj News programme News Insight with Amir Zia on Tuesday, he said that Trump refers to many as his friends, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but that does not mean the US would begin supporting Kim in North Korea.
Haqqani went on to add that if the US has no interest in Pakistan, he does not understand why Trump would show any interest in the country’s affairs.
The former ambassador to the US also discussed the competitive nature of the upcoming US presidential elections between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
He noted that Trump has instilled a sense of assurance among many white Americans that their dominance is under threat. “There is a significant divide in the US,” Haqqani said.
He claimed that the ultimate decision for the presidency would come down to just a few thousand votes from seven American states.
In response to a question, the former Pakistani ambassador to the US stated that Trump has a much closer relationship with Netanyahu and was unlikely to restrain him regarding Gaza. In contrast, while Harris would support Israel, she may apply some pressure on Netanyahu and align more with Israel’s liberal political parties.
Haqqani added that on the issue of Ukraine, Trump appears to favour Russia, quoting the former US president as “Ukraine is not our problem” and indicating a desire to halt support for Ukraine.
He further explained that Trump does not think “deeply” about foreign policy; rather, he is adept at exerting pressure on other countries. The former US president “does not wish to entangle US forces abroad or maintain high defence spending, indicating that his agenda is largely domestic,” he said.
On the other hand, Haqqani added Harris adhered to a traditional stance that has persisted since the Eisenhower era.
Haqqani concluded that whether it is Trump or Harris, both will maintain similar policies regarding Russia and China, reflecting a continuity in U.S. foreign policy.
When asked, he stated that the Muslim vote and financial contributions were not significant enough in American elections to make a substantial difference in the outcomes.
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He added that the number of Pakistani voters in the US is relatively low, with many Pakistanis making decisions based on the situation in their home country. He mentioned that “there is a perception among Pakistanis that if Donald Trump supports Imran Khan, then his supporters will back Trump.”
Traditionally, Pakistanis have voted for the Democratic Party due to its commitment to protecting the rights of immigrants.
He added that Trump’s statement about ending immigration would close off avenues for individuals, including parents, children, or relatives, wishing to enter the US.
