Pakistan Military Rules Out Deal with Imran Khan, Reports The Guardian

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s military has categorically dismissed the possibility of negotiating or striking a deal with imprisoned former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, according to a report by The Guardian. The comments come in response to Khan’s recent expressions of willingness to engage with military leadership from his prison cell.

The Guardian reported that Khan, in a statement conveyed through his legal team, confirmed he has had no direct interaction with the military since his arrest in August last year. However, the cricketer-turned-politician suggested he remained open to dialogue, despite previously accusing the military of orchestrating his government’s downfall and engineering his imprisonment.

Behind closed doors, senior military officials alleged that Khan has been pushing for “unconditional” talks to secure his release in recent months. However, they have remained steadfast in their refusal.

“Khan has to face the court cases against him and cannot expect any deals from the military,” a senior military source reportedly said. “He demands rule of law for others but resists it for himself.”

Khan, in his statement to the newspaper, maintained that any engagement with the military would need to be “based on principles and in the interest of the people, not personal gain or compromises that undermine Pakistan’s democratic values.” He added, “I would rather live the rest of my life in prison than compromise on my principles.”

The former prime minister currently faces over 100 legal cases, which he claims are politically motivated. Despite this, his rhetoric toward the military has grown more conciliatory as his imprisonment continues and the cases against him multiply.

The military’s firm stance underscores its intent to remain distanced from Khan, marking a significant moment in Pakistan’s fraught civil-military relations as the country navigates political and institutional turbulence.