LONDON (Diya TV) — Aleema Khan, the sister of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, has accused Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir of provoking conflict with India for personal and ideological reasons. In a recent interview with Sky News, she claimed Munir “yearns for a war with India” and engineered tensions to strengthen his standing as an “Islamic conservative” leader.
Aleema described Munir as a “radicalised Islamist” who seeks confrontation with India. She said his ideology pushes him to act against people who do not share his beliefs. According to her, Munir’s alleged extremism stands in sharp contrast to Imran Khan’s approach to India.
She said Imran Khan has always tried to improve ties with New Delhi. She called her brother a “pure liberal” who focused on peace and cooperation. Aleema claimed that Pakistan moves toward conflict only when what she called “radical Islamist leadership” takes charge.
She also appealed to Western governments to take stronger steps to help secure Imran Khan’s release. She referred to him as an “asset” for Pakistan and said he represents what she believes is a large majority of the nation.
During the interview, Aleema accused Munir of orchestrating tensions that led to the May hostilities between India and Pakistan. She alleged that Munir used the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were killed on April 22, to escalate the conflict for ideological reasons.
On May 7, India launched precision strikes on nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India called the action Operation Sindoor. Officials in New Delhi stressed that the strikes targeted only terror infrastructure and avoided Pakistani military and civilian sites.
Aleema claimed the Pahalgam attack involved the “selective targeting of Hindus,” describing it as part of Munir’s alleged efforts to project a stronger religious identity. She did not provide evidence for this claim during the interview.
Aleema also linked the long-standing tensions between Munir and Imran Khan to events from 2019. At that time, Munir had reportedly shown interest in investigating corruption allegations involving Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi.
According to Aleema, this created friction. Munir was removed as director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence after eight months in the role, far shorter than the usual three-year tenure. The Pakistan Army did not give a reason for the reshuffle, but the timing fueled speculation about a personal clash.
Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has been in jail since August 2023. He faces several convictions and remains held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Over the past month, his family has raised concerns about his well-being, claiming authorities prevented them from meeting him.
This week, Imran’s sister, Dr. Uzma Khanum, met him for 20 minutes. After the visit, she told reporters that he was “mentally tortured” and kept in isolation for most of the day. She said he could step out of his cell only for short periods and had almost no access to communication. She added that Imran blamed Gen. Munir for his treatment.
Aleema said the government is trying to isolate Imran Khan to silence his supporters. She claimed he represents “90% of the country” and that authorities fear his influence. She believes the isolation strategy aims to weaken public support by cutting him off from the outside world.
She said Pakistani authorities want to “suppress the people of Pakistan” by keeping their chosen leader away from them. According to her, the government hopes the public will forget Imran if he remains locked away.
The accusations mark another sharp escalation in Pakistan’s internal political conflict. They highlight the growing divide between the military leadership and Imran Khan’s supporters. Aleema’s remarks also risk straining Pakistan’s relations with India at a sensitive time.
As India and Pakistan continue to navigate fragile ties, the claims add fuel to an already volatile political landscape. The unfolding situation leaves both nations watching closely as tensions inside Pakistan continue to rise.
