FT report highlights Field Marshal Munir led back-channel talks that led to two-week pause in West Asia war. However, all 3 parties have divergent views on terms of ceasefire.
Episode 1673 of #CutTheClutter, originally published on 31 May 2025, connects the dots to explain how Pakistan inveigled its way into the White House in Trump's second term.
Pakistan defence minister dwells on Islamabad’s role in Soviet-Afghan war & then siding with US against Taliban in ‘war on terror’, linking it with existing extremism, economic woes.
Baloch Liberation Army launched coordinated assaults across 12 districts in Jan-end, while Pakistan intensified ops against the separatist militants, accusing India of external support.
Hungary, Israel & UAE have already accepted invitation to join the board, part of Trump's Gaza peace plan. It's not immediately clear if Pakistan will pay $1 bn membership fee.
While the "establishment" has enjoyed a large share of power, last week's constitutional amendments gave Army chief Asim Munir additional powers and lifelong immunity from prosecution.
What Munir has achieved with Trump is a return to normal, ironing out the post-Abbottabad crease. The White House picture gives us insight into how Pakistan survives, occasionally thrives and thinks.
For all the various formats of bilateral dialogue, the India-US relationship never developed an institutional framework that could have prevented a free fall under circumstances like the current ones.
We now live in a world order that will keep shifting. India must use this window. This also means we remain disciplined enough not to be knee-jerked into reacting to what Pakistan sees as its moment in the sun.
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