Why is Imran known as Taliban Khan

New Delhi, July 26: Imran Khan is at a touching distance and is set to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. A man who started off on a positive note, over the years has earned the nickname Taliban Khan.

Khan made a strategic shift in his approach over the years, by speaking the language of religious extremists and very often terrorists. He had come under severe criticism when he referred to Wali-ur-Rehman as 'pro peace,' after he was killed in 2013 in a drone strike. He had tweeted, "The drone attack that killed pro peace Waliurrehman led to r (sic) soldiers being killed/injured in revenge attacks! This is totally unacceptable."

Another time when he was criticised when he had suggested the opening of an office for the Taliban in Pakistan. If the US could open an office for the Afghan Taliban in Qatar, then why can't there be one in Pakistan, he had said.

In 2014, he had termed the killing of Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike as deliberate. It was a deliberate targeting of the peace process, he had said then. He was further scrutinised after his party gave a donation of PKF 550 million to a madrasa of Sami-ul-Haq, who is known as the Father of the Taliban.