India Narrative

When Imran Khan had to unceremoniously give up the office of Prime Minister, he left behind a troubled legacy. Pakistan’s economy was in shambles and the relations with several key foreign powers in free fall. However, in one area where he tasted some success was in forming an “Islamic alliance” with pal Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia, and in crying himself hoarse about 'Islamophobia’, instigating an almost riot like situation near the French Embassy after caricatures of prophet Mohammed were published in France.  He feverishly tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue, taking it after decades to the UN Security Council where nothing came of it. And he managed to get the UN to adopt a resolution to mark an international day for combating Islamophobia. Under Imran Khan's watch the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) strengthened its position in Pakistan, while Khan himself became an unofficial spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban on the internatio...

How will Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team fix the rapidly dwindling economic situation in the country? Most importantly, Sharif will have to carefully choose the next finance minister. Pakistan, under PTI leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saw four finance ministers in just a span of three years.   Last year Khan appointed Shaukat Tarin as his finance minister. Tarin was the fourth finance minister appointed within three years. While the road ahead will be tough for the next finance minister, renewing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the earliest and wooing back the Gulf countries will be on the agenda as the Sharif government’s immediate focus will be on the revival of the economy. The 70-year-old, brother of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Sharif, took charge on Monday after PTI leader Imran Khan lost the no confidence motion on Sunday. Read more