Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he wants the United States to have a "dignified relationship" with Pakistan similar to what it shares with India. In a recent interview with the UK-based publication Financial Times, Khan stated that India has a "very dignified" relationship with the US.
"I basically want a dignified relationship with the US like India. India has a very dignified relationship with the US," the former cricketer told Financial Times in an interview last week. The recent remarks come in the wake of Khan's claims that the US had conspired to remove him as prime minister a few months ago.
Citing India's decision to import Russian oil despite the ongoing war, Khan said that India says "no" to the US and takes priority for its people. He said that Pakistan wants to be partners with the US but there must be occasions where they "should be allowed to say no."
Terming the ties between Islamabad and Washington as akin to one of a "master-servant", the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief claimed that Pakistan had been used like a "hired gun" and blamed the previous governments for it.
"Our relationship with the US has been as of a master-servant relationship, or a master-slave relationship, and we've been used like a hired gun. But for that I blame my own governments more than the US," Financial Times quoted Imran Khan as saying.
While referring to the alleged "conspiracy" regarding his ouster from power, Imran Khan said that "it's over." He said that the US could not have been successful in their desires without people in Pakistan who "actively" participated in it.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's over, it's behind me. But, whatever the US desires could not have happened without people here who actively took part in the conspiracy to get rid of me," Imran Khan told Financial Times.
Notably, Imran Khan was removed from office through a vote of no-confidence by the then-opposition in April this year. He has often accused the US and the then-opposition for his ouster.
The allegations made by the PTI chief have been denied by Washington. In the interview with Financial Times, Imran Khan also termed "embarrassing" his visit to Moscow a day before Russia launched an offensive in Ukraine.
It is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan is leading an anti-government march in Pakistan with convoys from different cities heading towards Islamabad, Geo News reported. He has been demanding a date for general elections in Pakistan in due time.
The PTI march has resumed after it was halted last week when Imran Khan was targeted in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad.
(ANI)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)