Pakistan is in a mess due to lack of planning and corruption in its projects. Scores of Pakistani politicians are greedy opportunits who want to profit from lucrative projects, profiteering takes precedence over projects that can provide opportunities and relief to the masses in true sense.
IPPs and
Metro projects are notable examples. Even road infrastructure is of low quality because it is profitable to repair roads again and again.
Some are involved in smuggling as well.
Khan is different from a typical Pakistani politician - he does not take bribes and profit from lucratuve projects in person. He can take a principled stand on any subject.
Khan is not pro-US but independent-minded in his own right. He was vocal against War On Terror and pushed for talks with Taliban groups. He is not favorably perceived in the US due to these positions. He boycotted Global Democracy Summit and chose to visit Moscow when Russia was looking forward to invade Ukraine. When PTI-led GOP was in trouble, Khan blamed the cypher saga for his troubles. Some in Pakistan were rightfully concerned about where PAK - US bilateral relationship is heading in view of so many issues and disputes.
Now I see you declaring Khan a CIA asset. My head is spinning.
So PTI-led GOP was toppled to appease China? Because the Chinese see him as a CIA asset?
Pakistan desire productive relations with as many countries as possible. Pakistan must also address its internal problems and curb corruption if it is to develop and sustain itself in the long term.
People are taking petty positions in this thread and in regards to how to make Gwadar work. Unfortunately.
Pakistan's problems stem from one major source.
Pakistani do not want to pay taxes but want free stuff.
This is the reason why an IPP project is cheaper than taking a long-term loan, as no one will give a long-term loan to Pakistan at the rates that would be required for a power project to be cheaper than an IPP.
Pakistan has already defaulted on other IPP projects constantly in the past (Due to Pakistanis not wanting to pay taxes but wanting free stuff).
This is why any future IPP projects Pakistan gets will have to come with a Sovereign Guarantee.
Khan annoyed Biden to such an extent that the U.S. gave the Pakistani Military Establishment their blessing in the Pakistani Military Establishment's support of the removal of Imran Khan.
Imran Khan was removed because his pied piper tales of ANtI COruPtIoN (Locking away his political opponents on false or no charges), [Even More] Populism (low interest loans for housing, aka printing even more money, fuel subsidy increase, health subsidy increase, education subsidy increase) leading to an even worse economic situation, and trying to spin his total lack of diplomatic skill as "Independence".
Imran Khan was
supposed to get Pakistan free money from the Trump Administration for ruining CPEC, but his lack of diplomatic skill killed that plan.
Basically, Imran Khan lied and failed at just about all the things he was supposed to do.
Also, the Pakistani Military Establishment got really, really scared when the combination of Imran Khan supporting the Taliban combined with Imran Khan being in Moscow on February 24th led to the Biden Administration threatening consequences to Pakistan if Imran Khan wasn't removed.
This
should be a great boon to China, if Asim Munir isn't a U.S. stooge like Bajwa was. We will see how it plays out in the coming years.
China doesn't interfere in the internal affairs of other countries for the most part.
If Nawaz Sharif can come into office (assuming the U.S. forces Asim Munir to get a democratically elected leader elected at some point), I have great hopes that trade with Pakistan's neighboring countries will improve.
Nawaz Sharif (And his brother, Shehbaz Sharif) are very competent politicians in most respects, as opposed to most Pakistani politicians.
Hopefully COAS Asim Munir can get the tax collection and electric bill collection at least somewhat better with the interim technocratic government before he is forced (if it happens) by the U.S. to have elections.
It should be noted that the Trump Administration wanted nothing to do with Pakistan.
If the Biden Administration either hold roughly that sentiment or even has a bit of compulsion to help Pakistan, then that would actually be an improvement.
I should note that I am talking for myself, as an American Geopolitical Analyst.
I don't really know what the Chinese think, as they don't really tell anyone. I can only guess.
www.wsj.com
