- PTI chairman quotes party’s founder offering to help resolve Pakistan–Afghanistan hostilities if freed temporarily
- Imran’s sister says he was pained by hasty repatriation of Afghan refugees, urging dialogue over confrontation
- PTI founder stresses inclusion of all stakeholders—federal, KP, tribal, and Afghan authorities—in counterterrorism efforts
- Noreen Niazi says ex-PM cautions peace and political stability are essential to stem capital flight and restore investor confidence
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Wednesday that incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has offered to help defuse the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan if he is released on parole.
Imran, imprisoned since August 2023 in a £190 million corruption case, is also facing several trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act linked to the May 9 protests. His party has repeatedly voiced concern over his health and detention conditions, as well as those of the former first lady.
The offer comes amid three days of cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which killed and injured several people on both sides before a temporary ceasefire was announced earlier today. The clashes erupted over ongoing disputes concerning cross-border terrorism and the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail after meeting the PTI founder, Barrister Gohar quoted Imran as saying:
“I offer you people that release me on parole, and I will solve the Afghanistan problem for you.”
Earlier, Imran’s sister, Noreen Niazi told journalists that her brother was distressed by the hurried repatriation of Afghan refugees, noting that Pakistan had hosted them for decades.
افغانستان کے حوالے سے عمران خان کا پیغام۔
افغانستان کے ساتھ موجودہ حالات پر عمران خان رنجیدہ تھے انہوں نے کہا کہ جسطرح پاکستان سے یہاں چالیس سال سے رہنے والوں کو دھکے دے کر نکالا گیا ان کے دلوں میں پاکستان کے لیے محبت نہیں ہوگی، افغانستان ہمارا مسلم ہمسایہ معاملات بات چیت سے حل… pic.twitter.com/Eb69NuHLgk
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 15, 2025
She quoted him as saying that it was “the job of politicians to achieve peace” and that he was ready to contribute if released on parole.
“They should think—because the conditions of Pakistan have become such that three million people have left the country, multinational companies are leaving, and there is no foreign investment. He says peace comes only with political stability,” she added, though expressing doubt that authorities would consider his offer.
A post from Imran’s official X account, which is not directly operated by him, echoed the same sentiment, stressing that all stakeholders—including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, federal authorities, tribal representatives, and the Afghan government—must be part of any counterterrorism policy.
“The issue of terrorism cannot be solved without dialogue with the Afghan government,” the message read, urging the KP government to initiate consultations with all parties to formulate a comprehensive and long-term strategy for peace in the region.
