From Field Marshal to Field Marshal, Pakistan got dismembered and grew in population, poverty and military might. Amid dissent, disapproval, dismay, disappointments and disgruntlement, our leadership is pulling off a feat by playing on our strengths. Consequently, we have achieved a unique position of having strategic ties with all three world powers i.e. China, Russia and US. Before diving into these strategic partnerships one by one, note and reconcile with this reality that not only the world but business, friendships and even close relationships work on the principle of leverage. Like it or not, lately, Pakistani leadership has made some smart moves. Their marketing pitch is fantastic. They have been able to sell Pakistan’s security prowess along with minerals; packaging bestselling product (security) with least selling product (minerals) yet to be explored or to say the least extremely difficult to explore. This is selling off the plan which in real estate domain is called selling dirt out of thin air. Kudos for that.
Political turmoil is pacified through coercion, yet security situation along western borders continues to worsen with question marks all over it. Iran is reverting back to brotherly ways, yet bad blood with Afghanistan continues to grow with question marks all over it. Afghanistan is also a selling point for us specially when US desires to regain military presence in the region.
Deliverables at Bunyan ul Marsoos have brought us to the forefront and demand of our quality security services increased. Good tidings, since our rent seeking desk for lack of business over the past decade or so had almost become redundant.
India went out of US’ favour for its lacklustre performance against China and oil/ arms purchases from Russia.
Pakistan’s Strategic ties with Global powers are not tied only to security services, crypto mineral or oil deals with US. In fact, three things propelled Pakistan to exalted position where it can interact strategically with all the three great powers; firstly its geography, secondly Bunyan ul Marsoos where the world saw how Pakistan convincingly demonstrated its credible conventional war fighting capabilities with Pakistan Air Force having a central role and thirdly its China which has always been a time tested and trusted ally of Pakistan.
Then Pakistani leadership’s foresightedness to generously give credits to President Trump for ending 87 hours war with India. Doubling down on the advantage, Pakistan nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize. And next thing you see that Field Marshal gets a seat on breakfast table with the Caesar at the White House on June 18. It was then that Trump ticked Pakistan Army as stabilising force in ME, resulting in signing of SMDA which was even welcomed by the Iranian President in his 24 September speech at UN. On sidelines of UNGA 80, Trump’s 21 points peace plan was discussed with Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, Egypt, UAE and Pakistan. 25 September, FM & PM get another chance to visit White House to have further discussions on Pakistan’s central strategic role in the ME, minerals and Baghram.
Concurrently, Pakistan- Russia strategic ties are evolving very fast in two areas; new global governance system where we have Russia and China as the key players. Second is new geoeconomics model to de-dollarise the world. At SCO Chinese President not only declared Pakistan a priority partner in Southeast Asia but Asia as a whole. He also spoke about Afghanistan Issue to be settled with the help of Pakistan. Moscow shares the same view. Putin had spoken about the gas pipeline from Russia to Pakistan where infrastructure has already been built in Russia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Today Pakistan’s influence extends beyond south Asia to the Middle East and the Western IIndian Ocean where Bangladesh, Pakistan and China have come together for the security of the Western Indian ocean.
Pakistan has taken the right step of being on the right side of Geopolitics aligning with new global governance system which promotes partnership among nations. In this context, Russia and China have no problem with Pakistan’s strategic role with US. All in all Pakistan today stands strong and tall among the comity nations.
Our leadership is doing well. Our people also deserve better.
Good Day.
Despite these gains, one cannot ignore the contradictions. On one hand, Pakistan is playing a pivotal role in the emerging global alignment, rubbing shoulders with the world’s greatest powers. On the other hand, its own house remains fragile. Political instability continues to undermine policy continuity. The economy struggles under the weight of debt, inflation, and low productivity. Institutions that should serve as arbiters of stability often become parties to internal strife.
ReplyDeleteIf tomorrow, the interests of China, Russia, and the United States clash head-on in this region, Pakistan may find itself in an impossible balancing act. Can we simultaneously be the trusted partner of Beijing, Moscow, and Washington when their contest sharpens? Will our internal weaknesses—economic fragility, governance gaps, security volatility—allow us to absorb the pressures?
Thus, while our leadership has marketed Pakistan’s strengths well and secured strategic space, the contradiction lies in our unpreparedness to sustain the costs of being everyone’s partner at once. Without addressing domestic weaknesses, the very leverage we celebrate today may turn into vulnerability tomorrow
DeleteThank you for the valuable feedback.
1. Pakistan’s smart manoeuvring in emerging global alignments and it's internal discord is not a contradiction but a reality.
2. Since second onservation is based on anassumption so I'll pass this one. Because there could be numsrous assumptions and assumption as they say is the mother of all cock ups.
3. It's not a contradiction rather the real world operates like this and the last part is again an assumption.
Regards