Only today, on the sideline of the UNGA, Biden met all five leaders of the central Asian nations. Supposedly, the first US President to meet with them. If we wanted any more indication of US interests in the region, this event is it.
Now this shouldn’t be a green light for shortsighted rent seeking, but a strategic move by a democratic Pakistani government, the carry’s out structural reforms and returns to its
native culture, which overlaps in many ways to how Islam was also practiced in Central Asia before the Soviets. This is also more closer to Kashmiri culture, and paces the way for Pakistan to be better placed to merge with all of Muslim majority Kashmir, especially as India’s culture moves towards Hindutuva extremism.
The road to Srinagar is paved through Islamabad NOT Rawalpindi, as history has shown, and a strategic partnership with the US, vis a vi Central Asia can create the two-political space for Pakistan to build itself up to peruse this generational task. It took over 40 years for Pakistani culture to effect Afghan culture and make it so that most Afghans can’t admit it, but can live with a border with Pakistan (as long as they can cross it with some ease). Equally, with some effort, Pakistan can be brought back to its Pre-Zia Culture, and come back in line with Kashmiri culture, so that merger of the two becomes only natural.
IK is best placed to be the leader to carry forward this vision, not just because of his relationship with the Afghans, but also his Sufi leanings and popularity domestically and in the diaspora, AND what the past year and half have made him, a symbol of change.
Doing even the most optimized plan, under a military government, will not have the people to people multiplier effect; soft power.
Center Asia is vital to Pakistan’s Geo-Poltical global relevance.
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