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Good Cricketer, Bad Leader

There’s reason to consider what Imran Khan’s leadership means for Pakistan.

By Imran Jan | May 2021

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Ever since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been in power, there has been general speculation that progress on the CPEC has slowed down. Part of this could be the perception that Imran Khan was against the projects started by Nawaz Sharif. It has always been Nawaz who is viewed as a builder of infrastructure. In a nation where the construction of roads and bridges are viewed as a path toward development, it comes as no surprise that the wholesalers of concrete are popular leaders. But the CPEC work has also been slow due to a combination of bulwarks that the global powers have placed very cunningly in Pakistan’s path toward true development.

The year when PTI came into power, Pakistan was in dire need of cash infusion. Saudi Arabia, the traditional and transactional ally of Pakistan, came to its rescue and gave Pakistan a $3 billion loan as well as a $3.2 billion oil credit. That allowed Pakistan some breathing space. In the real world, run only by national interests, being in debt to a nation results in the indebted nation to be indebted not in money alone, but in almost every sphere of foreign and domestic policies. Even local journalism in the indebted country is not safe from that trap. Little wonder, Saudi cash slowed down the work on CPEC.

Once the Chinese expressed their concerns, they had to be calmed down. Using Islamabad’s insistence on asking Riyadh’s support over the Indian human rights violations in Kashmir, Saudi Arabia started pushing Pakistan to repay the loan. This time the Chinese came to Pakistan’s rescue. Pakistan started paying back the $3 billion Saudi loan in installments.

However, the real game changer in slowing down CPEC has been the IMF. Ever since Pakistan entered the IMF agreement, the US influence and the IMF economic hitmen have systematically caused the slowdown of the CPEC project. Washington has always shown concern for Pakistan to be in a debt trap of Chinese money due to CPEC. Many journalistic wizards also make noises that most of the benefits of CPEC are going to China and only a fraction is being given to Pakistan. The corona virus pandemic added more spice to the drama.

This is global power rivalry and Pakistan is right in the middle of it. Pakistan is China’s Israel but it has also been in a historic alliance with the United States. The strategy of treading the path carefully and in a balanced manner becomes extremely hard, if not impossible, because the global power mindset is that you are either with them or against them. They say in Pashto that when the elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.

If Pakistan appeases the IMF, which by extension means the United States of America, then the Chinese get upset. If Pakistan tries to turn the Chinese frown upside down, the Americans throw at Pakistan problems such as FATF, Saudi loan repayment, and so forth.

The withdrawal of the US military from Afghanistan is around the corner and once that happens, violence across the region is going to increase. This will further affect CPEC progress, as many regional players supported by Pakistan’s enemies would use their dirty tricks to create mayhem inside Pakistan. It wouldn’t be a surprise if many Chinese engineers are attacked in desperation.

There have been reports of Pakistan and India embracing secret diplomacy toward achieving peace. Emotionally that sounds nice but rationally it is nothing but self-deception. The unpopular truth is that India will never be a friend of Pakistan. All this is nonsense about brotherly neighbours and a peaceful neighbourhood. It will only further slow down CPEC and achieve nothing.

PTI’s biggest weakness is its weak attitude. Imran Khan had to fire Atif Mian, a very talented economist, because there was noise over his faith. He had to let Abhinandan go quicker than even a Pakistani citizen gets bail from a jail lockup. Kulbhushan is still out there. Khan also never shied from relentlessly sending peace gestures to India when all India did was to shame Pakistan globally. The cricketer Imran Khan was decisive and firm. The politician Imran Khan does not stand firm on his decisions and shies away from showing resolve. Atif Mian, Abhinandan, Jadhav, and slow work on CPEC are all merely the products of indecisiveness. Leaders do not make roads and bridges, but they also don’t shy away from showing firmness and strength. A true leader is a strong leader. A country like Pakistan, which is literally situated in the neighborhood of enemies, needs a strongman, not a nice guy.

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