Pakistan Defence Minister flustered in a fiery interview over Imran Khan’s X account: ‘From jail or from India?’

In an interview with Mehdi Hasan, Asif contradicted himself on whether Imran Khan’s social media is run from jail or controlled by India.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was caught in an uncomfortable moment during an interview with British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan, when pressed about his contradictory allegations on former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s social media activity.

Asif initially claimed that Khan was operating his X (formerly Twitter) account from inside Adiala Jail, where the PTI founder has been imprisoned since August 2023. But when Hasan reminded him of his earlier allegation that the account was being controlled by India, the minister backtracked and appeared visibly rattled.

Speechless Pakistani defense minister on his false claims "Imran Khan's Twitter (X) account being operated from India". pic.twitter.com/JTkImzqz62

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— Khaleej Mag (@KhaleejMag) September 26, 2025

From 'Khan in jail' to 'India controls it'

“He is operating a Twitter account from the jail cell,” Asif told Hasan. The interviewer immediately shot back: “You said he was operating from India the other day… You said India is controlling his Twitter account… You just made two different allegations. Is it Imran in his prison cell or is it India?”

Flustered, Asif stammered: “Either he is operating from the cell or he should at least identify who is operating the jail cell.”

The exchange highlighted the Pakistani government’s increasingly muddled messaging around Khan’s continued influence, particularly his strong social media presence despite being behind bars.

No proof, only 'intelligence'

When pressed for evidence, Asif insisted his claims were based on 'intelligence sources' but offered no verifiable proof. “The evidence I cannot publicly disclose,” he said, before adding defensively, “No, because it is there.”

On whether India controlled Khan’s account, Asif conceded: “Yes, based on, obviously, intelligence. Nobody is stating it openly.”

Detention under global scrutiny

Hasan also grilled Asif on Imran Khan’s imprisonment, which has drawn widespread international criticism. UN experts have labelled Khan’s detention 'illegal,' but the Pakistani government has dismissed such concerns.

Asif sidestepped the question, saying: “He must prove that he has clean hands.”

Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister and PTI founder, has been in custody since August 2023 after being sentenced to three years in prison in a corruption case. He was arrested from his Lahore residence and remains at Adiala Jail despite repeated calls for his release.