"Do you know, what is my biggest asset?"
"it is my ability to keep a flat face and not let anyone have a clue what I am thinking about.
friends or foes can never figure out what I am thinking and I always keep them guessing."
Nawaz Sherif is quoted as saying few years back to a close aide in a private gathering
Machiavellianism
the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct".
inside Pakistan he has Atheist cum liberals like Asma Jahangir, Najam Sethi in his pocket
together with those who promote religious extremism like Irfan Sadique. in Punjab he has the backing of Hafiz Saeed and Punjabi Taliban to provide muscle on the streets while in other parts of the country he has secular and ethnic parties like Pashton ANP and Mohajir movement leaders and Baloch nationalists. in Punjab he uses the Punjabi card and knows that the disproportionate population advantage from punjab gives him guarneeted win in a democracy he has molded to his advantage due to the rule over Punjab over several decades from the time of Zia.
outside the country on the east he presents himself a peace loving and well wishing civilian leader who likes business and hates war and he would say things which the Indian crowd and opinion makers love to hear i.e. hating the Pakistan army and ISI. he will never mention Kashmir and if it will be mentioned then it will be in context of Kargil and how Pak army back stabbed India. to much Indian applause and pleasure he will even question the wisdom of partition when there is so much in common. if ever anyone will bring up Hafis Saeed or Jamat ut Dawa then he will throw out Kargil and ISI to bring back the guns on Paksitan army.
and he will do the same on the western side talking to Afghan racist regime of Northern Alliance warlords and drug barons.
he will tell outside world that he is confronted by Pakistan army which doesn't like peace with its neighbors and his efforts are sabotaged by Pakistan army to explain violence in Afghanistan or armed conflict in Kashmir. he will claim that he has been ousted before and now because he wanted peace.
he pocketed money from Saudis over cancelling Gas deal with Iran and promised them to send Pakistani troops to fight their proxy wars in Yemen or even Syria and kept quiet when Saudis showed their shock and disbelief when Pakistan army didn't comply.
Inside Pakistan while in Punjab he will claim that he is punished for building motorways and CPEC and conducting the nuclear explosions. while in Baluchistan to appease the separatist leaders he will blame Pakistan army and claim to care for them.
it takes some special talent to have atheists, nationalists, xenophobes , religious fanatics and liberals all together under his thumb and he knows that these influential people or entities have one thing in common and that is their common hatred for Pakistan army as an entity. and he views Pakistan army as a final and permanent hurdle in establishing the House of Sherifs as the rightful rulers of Pakistan on the Middle eastern apartheid model.
his house is ruthless in its dealing with the rest of people of Punjab, eliminating the political and non political (business) adversaries through intimidation, legal actions. the civil administration bows to the will of house of sherifs and no one dares to challenge the house even if his caravan runs over a child and drives on or kills 14 people in broad day light in Lahore without any legal repercussions.
he has openly vowed to change the law and constitution to his liking and change all clauses that can make him accountable. he is sure to win the next elections because the democracy is molded to his will through money and intimidation.
outside Pakistan he is seen as a legit leader of Pakistan who is a physical manifestation of goodness , peace and love who must be helped in all possible manners and his financial misconduct should be overlooked for he is only true rival to Pakistan army.
his biggest win is with the Indians, he is willing business partner with Indians, shares the hatred and misgivings towards Pakistani military and has successfully used the same formula in his limited correspondence with Afghan regime.
