What discussion? How Bajwa sold Pakistan to America?
Despite the urge to simplify and keep on targeting the current CoAS, Pakistan has to maintain ties with both China and the US. This is not a zero sum game which is what IK had cornered Pakistan into with his ill-advised statements and inaction on some of the diplomatic fronts.
Pakistan has the following dependencies (not a comprehensive list but a starting point) on the US/West currently incase its lost on some people:
a) Budget deficit - IMF/WB support to ensure we can pay our import bill [China, Gulf will not support bi-lateral facilities unless the IMF has approved a plan for Pakistan to get its economy back on track, otherwise all these countries are worried that they are putting their money into a bottomless pit with no guarantees that they will see their loans getting serviced (paid back) by Pakistan.]
b) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) dependencies - FATF progression to whitelist to ensure we can get open, uninterrupted FDI which is essential for the overall growth of the economy. Without this, we cannot grow the net-size of the economy.
c) EU GSP+ status
d) Alignment on Afghanistan - Getting the West's support to help Afghanistan economically otherwise we have another massive economic basket case, along with our own to deal with.
e) Security alignment - Most of our major weapon systems are of US/Western origin and continued maintenance, upgrades and new acquisitions are tied with our ties to these countries. Case in point is that of Turkey having walked away from the US and then back to the US camp facing the reality that neither Russia, nor their own indigenous capabilities can fill the gap in the absence of US/Western weapons. Our situation is further complicated with the massive injection of western military technology finding its way into the Indian military.
f) Maintaining a semblance of ties with the US to ensure that they can be at least a broker (even if not a fair one) on the India/Kashmir situation. In the absence of the US, talks between Pak-India are not going to happen.
The strategic rethink on part of the Chinese, regarding PakMil is very real and not made up. It's proven to be an unstable and unreliable partner. The effects of which will be seen in the coming years, even more. BRI projects necessary for Chinese interests continue to be under-written, and sponsored - while those asked for by Gov of Pakistan will not be funded in the near term until the strategic rethink is complete.
The entire Chinese policy on how to continue in Pak is currently undergoing revamp.
They are well within their right to evaluate but nothing earth-shattering in this regard is happening. If anything, Pak-China will see even more focused alignment in the coming years given what else is happening around the region and specifically in the pacific.
Please elaborate on what you mean by "It's proven to be an unstable and unreliable partner" with facts!
I have seen the same being repeated a few times by you on this forum with nothing factual in support.
