Yes, it’s a bad thing. The Army is supposed to report to the political government and not the other way around. Every time a Pakistani politician asserts civilian supremacy, they are unceremoniously removed from power. Even IK’s voters didn’t intend to put an Army puppet in place. Those of us who didn’t want him to get elected were pretty clear that he had no other ambition than to occupy the Prime Minister’s office.

“He’s basically sold out to the Army”

Is it really a bad thing? If nothing that at least the dejure and the defacto rulers of the country becomes one, which is how other countries like when they deal with Pakistan

Pakistan plays a much more deft diplomatic game

True. Pakistan has had an overriding compulsion as to how to manipulate external relations for the benefit of it’s elite; in that game they have come on top so far; the welfare of the people has not been on their agenda.

Pakistan plays a much more deft diplomatic game

True. Pakistan has had an overriding compulsion as to how to manipulate external relations for the benefit of it’s elite; in that game they have come on top so far; the welfare of the people has not been on their agenda.

They are the ones who put him in power.

He’s basically sold out to the Army

China is a very old friend; our oldest in fact. It’s only the US that has “departed” from Pakistan’s close circle of allies.

Pakistan plays a much more deft diplomatic game than India; brings to mind the story of the Hare & the Hound..

CPEC is only a small part of China’s whole “One Belt One Road” scheme. They wouldn’t be doing it if they didn’t see it in their economic and strategic interest.

Pakistan’s problem is that it is always looking for new benefactors. China is just the latest one.

..But they still gave money right? Same with USA.

On China i dont know what economic sense Gwadar really makes. Only thing is if some other countries join in. But Pakistan is surrounded by countries who are either unable (Iran,Afghanistan) or unwilling (India,Emirates Inc) to invest in CPEC. The only value i feel is its strategic sense of having a port in the gulf for China. But even there as soon as its militarized rather than India, it will be USA which will cry havoc over it, considering they are the biggest power in the gulf sea lanes.

I think CPEC has more to internally in Punjab and Sindh(Power projects, Agriculture, Infra etc) rather than Gwadar. Chinese want money which they have been guaranteed from those power projects and Pakistan gets some Infrastructure in return.