Can Pakistan Reverse the Downhill Slip?

Can Pakistan Reverse the Downhill Slip?

Prof. Ijaz Khan

Published in The Friday Times, 16 September 2022

Every situation offers a set of choices to states that are derived from external as well as internal factors, such as people, economy, geography, identity, culture and history. Since these factors are not static, they are debated on and policy guidelines are set.

This article will first look at Pakistan’s global situation, then narrow it down to regional and domestic position. It will evaluate the challenges Pakistan is facing and if it has the ability to successfully deal with them.

Two external events shape Pakistan’s current international relations: the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the US/NATO withdrawal and the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. The first one has brought the western states in direct confrontation with Russia and China. This threatening global conflict, even if fought on ground in a small European country, is pushing other states to take sides. The Russia-Ukraine crisis has negatively impacted the international economy, which in turn has weakened Pakistan’s already feeble economy.

The US/Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan has also played against Pakistan. The withdrawal, initially viewed as a victory for Pakistan’s policy, has re-ignited domestic terrorism as well as decreased Pakistan’s strategic significance for the US.