This is a defining time in international politics and in international finance. These two things are related - a fundamental concept not grasped by most Pakistani policy makers or analyst. Country cannot master one facet without the other. There have been attempts and indeed success under Ayub, Musharraf and IK but every time there is progress, things get derailed partly due to external enemies and partly due to efforts of aasteen ka saanph.
Indians, on the other hand, have learnt importance of financial/political nexus due to the effort of their diaspora, which unlike its Pakistani counterpart, has succeeded in the world of commerce and finance. Pakistanis who are well known globally are agents like Malala/Hussain Haqqani/Asma Jehangir types. Indians success is in varied field and too widespread and well known to recount. Indian diaspora in turn, has modified Indian policies. Indians now actively collude with Americans and with IFI's to put Pak in financial stress which in turn impacts Pak's political power. Pakistan is put in difficulty so that external parties can put their hands on the throat of Pakistan - a country blessed with huge national resources and a dynamic talent pool whose potential is going to waste due to leechars sitting on top. Indian situation may be only slightly better but they have learnt the art of putting lipstick on a pig. Pakistanis on the other hand are world champions of dragging their country into the gutter on behalf of their foreign masters.
This is where Russia comes in. Russia offers a new path to Pak. China is too dependent on Western markets to take an openly hostile stance. With Russia however, all bets are off. The freezing of Russian assets represents one of the largest thefts in the history of mankind. Russia, however, had been preparing for this day buy buying huge amount of gold and by keeping substantial reserves in Yuan (CNY). Unlike China, Russia can now give the west the middle finger. Options for goras are limited given Russia is a large exporter of global commodities. As fate would have it, this crises is occurring at a time when commodity prices are already at multi-year highs. Goras, especially Europeans are up the creek. They have no choice but to keep buying from Russia. Russian Ruble has now bounced back to pre-war levels indicating impact of sanctions is not having the desired impact.
What does all this have to do with Pak? Quite a lot actually. We are now in situation where we are seeing the birth of a monetary system that provides alternate to the dollar based financial system in place today. Pakistan, due to its relationship with China, can be an early adapter of the competing monetary regime. Whereas Russians might have had an issue before, all this has changed due to IK's visit. The new monetary system will offer substantially better terms to Pak than the USD based system does. But Pakistan has to play its cards right. Pakistan cannot afford to be hostile to Russia. Nor should it be. From Amreeka we have received Pressler amendment, Hussain Haqqani and hukum to bend to Indian servitude. New monetary system will not come with such drawbacks.
Question is will the elites let Pak be a part of non-gora block? Bajwa's recent statement, bordering on criminal in my view, seems that elites are too comfortable in London and DC despite ritual humiliation handed out to Pakistan. Elites will not deliver. It is time for patriots to grasp its fate.