So as expected Pakistan has lived up to its reputation of NOT ALLOWING any PM ever since its independence to complete one full tenure.
The two nations ;India and Pakistan started their journey together but look where is one left today and where the other has reached.
Both of us had similar problems but thanks to our founding fathers who ensured that India does not go back into the abyss from where it emerged after 800 years of slavery.
Imran Khan since coming to power in 2018 had towed a hard line view on USA and on the eve of Taliban capturing Afghanistan declared them as Freedom Fighters. So, it won’t be surprising that the Pak army which wanted to keep the relations with US going even after its withdrawal from Afghanistan, would not have been very happy with all this.
Imran Khan just a day prior to the vote of confidence had given a hint of it. He said that the establishment has given him few choices ; Resign, dissolve the assembly and hold elections. We all understand what establishment in Pakistan implies.
USA has apparently adopted a hands off policy regarding Pakistan and despite all the hulla gulla , Biden did not bother to call Imran even once since his taking over as US President.
Notwithstanding the above, Although the recent events post Taliban take over and India emerging an unofficial frontline state for USA in this region to checkmate China, might give this feeling that Pakistan has lost its strategic importance.
But, it should never be construed that USA has no interest left in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although, it claims that what Pakistan could do in Afghanistan is now being achieved through Quatar, but Pakistan’s strategic importance as a nuclear weapon state, a neighbor of China and its influence in Afghanistan and thereafter its reach to Central Asian republics and Iran can never be undermined. It is also an important member of OIC.
In view of the above, Imran Khan’s going, may rather be in the interest of USA as the next PM likely to be Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shehbaz Sharif may be more receptive to US interests in the region.
This old bonhomie between USA and Pakistan that existed a decade ago may not be possible anymore. However, even normalization of relations will benefit Pakistan as it may help him to wriggle out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) dragnet and also mitigating its economic problems.
Gen Bajwa, the Pak army Chief, in his recent statement gave a hint, when he said ; Pakistan wants good relations with US but not at the cost of others. This clearly indicates that Pakistan has learnt its lessons well and hence it will now avoid placing all the apples in one basket.
But has it learnt to avoid taking a confrontational approach with India and wind up terrorist infrastructure; only time will tell.
Notwithstanding the above, one can never take away this uncanny ability of Pakistan establishment to exploit the geo-political situation to its advantage and be able to run with the hare and hunt with the hound.