Imran is PM but Pak army still runs foreign, security policies: US report

The report prepared for US lawmakers by the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said Khan had no governance experience prior to winning his current office

During Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister, the Pakistani military has retained the dominant influence over foreign and security policies of the country, according to a US Congressional report.

The report prepared for US lawmakers by the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said Imran Khan had no governance experience prior to winning his current office and analysts contend that Pakistan’s security services manipulated domestic politics during elections with a motive of removing Nawaz Sharif.

Khan’s “Naya Pakistan” vision which appeared to animate many younger, urban, middle-class voters emphasizes anti-corruption and creation of a “welfare state” that provides better education and health care, but his effort has foundered due to the country’s acute financial crisis, and a need for new foreign borrowing and government austerity, the report said. “Most analysts see Pakistan’s military establishment continuing to retain dominant influence over foreign and security policies,” it said.

The CRS is an independent research wing of the US Congress, which prepares periodic reports on issues of interest for lawmakers. Its report are for meant for US lawmakers to make informed decision and not considered as an official report of the US Congress…