Are we in for a radical change in Pak-Afghan relations after an unprecedented move by proponents of the former Northern Alliance, many of whom now embody the National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan, led by Ahmed Masood, the son of the late Ahmed Shah Masood? Or does a rude shock await the new Kabul regime through new alignments involving Tajikistan, the historical base of the Northern Alliance?

But before delving into the Pak-Afghan issue, let's look at three critical developments in the current "world in flux". President Donald Trump's peace and tariffs offensives are indeed enforcing recalibration, if not major shifts, in global alliances.

Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin — regardless of immediate outcomes — marks a defining moment both for their bilateral relations and the present turbulent geopolitics.

Secondly, after China's upfront posturing on the tariffs issue forced Trump into extending the deadline for trade negotiations, Indian business executives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are slowly upping the India card with their anti-America rhetoric. This is triggering calls across India for boycotting McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple, among others — all prompted by US tariffs on exports from........

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