On one hand Pakistan got stuck in India's decisions, on the other hand 'Modi's friend' played a big game with Shahbaz

National News: Pakistan's Shahbaz Sharif government is already under pressure due to tough decisions taken by India like suspending the Indus Water Treaty and closing the Wagah border. Diplomatically isolated Islamabad now suffered another setback when a top US diplomat met the president of Imran Khan's party PTI. This meeting has taken place at a time when the political situation in Pakistan is very tense and pressure is mounting on the Shahbaz government from many sides.

US Embassy Counsellor Meets PTI President

Zachary V. Harkenrider, the US Embassy's political counsellor in Islamabad, met PTI President Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. They discussed Pakistan's political, economic, and security situation. Both sides exchanged views on mutual interests and expressed a commitment to continue dialogue moving forward. With the meeting's context, there are speculations about whether it signals a move to challenge the current government's stability.

Questions Raised About the Timing of the Meeting

This meeting has occurred at a time when divisions between opposition parties in Pakistan are widening. During the Central Council meeting, which was chaired by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), party leaders voiced their opposition to forming any kind of alliance with PTI. According to sources, JUI-F intends to pursue its own path and is looking to launch a movement against the government independently, rather than joining any unified platform.

Many PTI leaders are in jail

JUI leader Hafiz Hamdullah has also made it clear that most of the PTI leaders are in jail and the party leadership has not paid any attention to JUI's concerns so far. He says that if ever needed, there can be issue-based cooperation in Parliament, but there is no possibility of a formal alliance.

What is the significance of this meeting?

Meanwhile, America's efforts to communicate with PTI are being seen as a big signal in Pakistan's politics. This could be another setback for the Shahbaz government amid growing tensions with India and domestic political instability. Amidst the strong relations of the Modi government with America, this meeting is being seen as the 'entry of Modi's friend', due to which the internal politics of Pakistan seems to be getting even more complicated.