ONCE again, Pakistan finds itself walking a tightrope.

Surrounded by powerful neighbours, pulled by historical alliances, and burdened by internal scars, the country stands at a pivotal point—between past mistakes and future uncertainties.

Today’s world is being redrawn—not with tanks, but with trade routes, airbases, and digital frontiers.

And Pakistan, though not a superpower, sits at the center of the chessboard.

The latest tremor came not from the region itself, but from Washington.

In a recent cabinet meeting, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed regret over the loss of Bagram Airbase.

It wasn’t just a nostalgic military memory—it was a signal.

Trump, known more for deal-making than warmongering, lamented how giving up Bagram weakened America’s ability to monitor regional threats and, more importantly, its global rival—China.

What startled many was not just the reflection, but the accusation: that the Taliban had handed Bagram over to China.

Whether fact or fiction, the claim reignited strategic anxieties.

In global politics, perception often outweighs reality.

And the perception now is of an escalating Cold War 2.0—this time, with China at centre stage.

In this intensifying standoff between two global powers,........

© Pakistan Observer