Pakistan’s deep state is watching every action of the second Trump administration in the US cautiously. PTI, the main opposition party, thinks the change of guard in Washington may somehow help it defuse existential threats. That may be why it keeps sending mixed signals about its willingness to cooperate. On the international front, Pakistan’s politics is becoming increasingly entrenched in the big geopolitical game plans of the US and China and geostrategic priorities of the European Union, Russia, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Israel.

Domestically too, it is becoming increasingly exposed to explosive socio-ethnic-religious fault lines of parochialism, intolerance, religious extremism, and our habit of living in a fools’ paradise. When we look at the recent surge in militancy and terrorism in Pakistan in this backdrop, everything makes sense.

That said, for an economy to function properly, even the best understanding of socio-political contexts is not enough. Developing a suitable roadmap and actually beginning the journey is crucial.

Unfortunately, the ongoing economic........

© Dawn Business