Biggest surprise in peaceful leadership, and most critical for World is Pakistan PM Imran Khan: US Media
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NEW YORK - A major American newspaper has placed Prime Minister Imran Khan on what it called "a starting list" of world leaders who standout to win this year’s Peace Prize, citing his leadership in de-escalating the recent tensions between India and Pakistan.
Besides the Pakistani leader, The Christian Science Monitor listed South Korean President Moon Jae-in for opening a door to a North Korea and seeking a peaceful engagement aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula; Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for signing a peace pact with Eritrea and freeing political prisoners, and Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido, who became interim president with the support of the National Assembly to bring about peaceful change in the Latin American country.
"Perhaps the biggest surprise in peaceful leadership – and most critical to the world – is Imran Khan," the Monitor wrote. After a Feb. 14 suicide attack, killed 44 Indian security forces in disputed Kashmir, it said India launched its first airstrike inside Pakistan since a 1971 war, pointing out that the two nuclear-capable states were primed for all-out conflict.
"In a goodwill gesture that suddenly changed the mood, Mr. Khan returned an Indian fighter pilot shot down inside Pakistan. He also offered talks with India and promised to seize the assets of terrorists groups operating in Pakistan."
“Nobody wins in a war. Especially countries that have the sort of weapons that India and Pakistan possess should not even think of war...,” the newspaper cited him as saying.
Of Imran Khan, the Monitor said, "He is the first prime minister not to come from the traditional political establishment." "Which of these leaders deserve a Nobel?," the newspaper posed a question.
"Events are still moving in each country and the Peace Prize will not be known until October.
"For now, however, each deserves attention and support, especially for their conviction that peace is possible and natural," the Monitor added.
