Ex-foreign minister urges focus on reforms, not optics

Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday said Pakistan's ability to effectively manage its relations with both the United States and China depended less on external alignments and more on urgently fixing its own internal "system".

Speaking at the ThinkFest Afkar-e-Taza 2026 seminar titled "Pakistan: Between the US and China", Khar argued that Pakistan could not meaningfully leverage its place at the geopolitical table unless it addressed deep-rooted structural weaknesses.

She defined the "system" as the overall environment and framework within which the country's institutions, economy, politics, governance and foreign policy function.

The former top diplomat noted that Pakistan may be sitting at the table with both the US and China, but cautioned that the country will not gain anything until it resolves its internal issues and fixes its ecosystem.

Khar criticised Pakistan's tendency to prioritise optics over substance, saying the country remained overly focused on generating headlines rather than delivering sustained policy outcomes.

In contrast, China's approach was markedly different. She said the Chinese bow their heads, work patiently and focus only on delivery, adding that long-term consistency, not rhetorical positioning, defines successful statecraft.

She also called for a shift in Pakistan's regional mindset, particularly regarding India. Khar said Pakistan needed to move beyond obsessing over who India trades with or which countries New Delhi maintains relations with.