When Donald Trump sat down for lunch with Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir in the White House Cabinet Room, the menu featured more than just sandwiches. On the table was ‘nuclear peace pudding’ and a spicy chutney of covert strategies against Iran. Trump pretended to thank Munir for averting an India-Pakistan war, but the real dish was America’s dream of setting up military bases in Pakistan.

Munir offered to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump, in turn, asked: “Can we station American drones in Pakistan?” With the Israel-Iran conflict escalating, Trump wants Pakistan to provide intelligence along Iran’s eastern border. Munir gave a subtle nod, despite Pakistan’s earlier support for Iran. The US has its eyes on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and Trump wants Pakistan to undermine China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

India’s reaction? “It’s not a lunch, it’s a fiasco!”

India condemned the meeting as a shameful blow to Pakistan’s democracy. After all, what kind of democracy lets a foreign leader meet only its army chief, bypassing the elected Prime Minister? Whether this lunch was a tactical romance or a dangerous date remains to be seen. One thing is clear: it has spiced up Delhi-Islamabad-Washington ties with red-hot chilli.

With Iran under fire, speculation swirls about Pakistan’s fate. The country stands at a fragile crossroads, entangled in internal weaknesses and external pressures. Recently, ‘Operation Sindoor’ exposed Pakistan’s strategic vulnerabilities. The Iran-Israel conflict, Trump’s exclusive lunch with Munir, and the sidelining of PM Shehbaz Sharif have further tangled Pakistan’s political web.

Pakistan’s hybrid regime—where the military overshadows democratic institutions—is steadily eroding civil governance, as seen in the mistreatment of Imran Khan. Founded on Jinnah’s dream of a ‘pure’ Islamic state, Pakistan was born from hatred of India and religious extremism. This hostility resurfaces as terrorism, seen in wars of 1948, 1965, 1971, 1999, and now Operation Sindoor. Yet, no lessons have been learned. The creation of Bangladesh was a harsh warning, and now Balochistan seems to be heading down a similar path.

Operation Sindoor briefly unified Pakistan but also revealed glaring weaknesses. Military bases and nuclear sites were threatened, exposing the army’s inability to secure key assets. The rebellion in Balochistan is growing. Discontent among Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun communities signals an uprising against Punjabi-dominated governance and military control.

Trump’s preference for Munir over Sharif suggests that Washington favours military rule over democracy in Pakistan. This undermines democratic structures—evident in Imran Khan’s imprisonment—and reinforces a ‘garrison state’ mentality where security trumps development.

Pakistan’s economic woes are worsening. Successive governments in Islamabad have neglected growth, making the country reliant on foreign aid. Pakistan received $3 billion in 2023 and $7 billion in 2024 from the IMF, but its GDP growth remains at just 2.4 per cent (World Bank, 2024). The debt-to-GDP ratio is over 80 per cent, and inflation stands at 9.6 per cent (IMF, 2025). Aid from China and the US has turned the country into a pawn. In Ghalib’s words: “Bas ki dushwaar hai har kaam ka aasaan hona; aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahin insaan hona” — it is hard enough to live, harder still to live with dignity.

Pakistan’s foundation was laid on hatred for India. This hatred has manifested from Kashmir to Mumbai through acts of terror. The discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad stands testament to that. India’s 200 million Muslims live better lives than many in Pakistan, where minorities continue to face religious violence and persecution. The Iran-Israel conflict has only added fuel to the fire.

So, for whom do the bells toll?

Pakistan’s future hinges on whether it can break free from hate, military dominance, and foreign puppeteering. Without democratic reform, economic revival, and reconciliation with neighbours, the nation risks disintegration. The rebellion in Balochistan and the military’s stubborn grip hint ominously at that direction.