Shooting down of an American drone (on a spy mission) by Iran prompted the ever-ready-to-flex-his muscle Trump to approve strikes on Iran, but then realizing the consequences of his bellicosity, the American president abruptly pulled back.
For the present, a dangerous ‘conflagration’ has been averted, but with a theatrical self-centred and a potentially authoritarian extremist in the White House (known for his White Racism and hostility towards Muslims) the world is not a safe place.
Stephen Levitsky and Damiel Ziblatt in their recently published joint book “How Democracies Die” have stated that the collective wisdom of the citizens of America failed miserably when they voted a man like Trump into power.
One can say that Trump and the likes of him sitting in the positions of decision-making are Allah’s wrath on the mankind for the collective follies of human race.
Pakistan happens strategically to be situated in a region that can easily be dubbed as a flashpoint. Increasingly so because of the Afghan chaos. And offcourse Iran’s dreams of dominating the region which otherwise is the hub of Sunni Islam. But Iran doesn’t stand for sectarianism alone. It has an imperial history. It once dominated the civilized world.
Pakistan has to make decisions, and act, both bravely and sagaciously. In the past, as Imran Khan rightly pointed in a recent interview, Pakistan was an American ally against Soviet Union which was patronizing India. Today India has gravitated towards America, and Pakistan already (a long-time Chinese ally) towards Russia.
New realities are taking birth. Pakistan has to learn (i) how to avoid being an American proxy (ii) how to handle American power (iii) how to transform friendship with China and goodwill towards Russia into Self-Belief.
What Pakistan cannot afford is Internal Strife. Something simply must happen to bring about political stability (leading to economic revival) in the country.
Let it be realised that Pakistan is sitting on a volcano that can erupt.
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