Cryptocurrency, crude oil, and US-Pakistan bonhomie; is it rerun of Zia’s era? Why India should be very alert as history might…

Pakistan's partnership with America is not without risks for India.

New Delhi: Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir is in the USA on his second visit to the country after Operation Sindoor. From the American soil, he has issued serious threats of using the atomic bomb against India and to damage Indian projects on the Indus River.

All these events and the poisonous rhetoric remind of the reign of former Pakistan president General Zia-ul-Haq, who encouraged radicalisation of the country in the name of Islam and Muslims.

What is the similarity between Asim Munir and Zia ul-Haq?

Cutting back to the present, it seems like a rerun of whatever transpired in the late 1970s up to the end of the 20th century. The same camaraderie is being witnessed between Pakistan and America. Munir’s anti-India rants are no different from a terrorist leader.

On its part, the USA is providing full patronage to the Field Marshal, calling Pakistan’s friendship important for South Asia.

In the 1980s, Pakistan swindled billions of dollars from America in the name of help in Afghanistan and ISI further helped in establishing the roots of Al Qaeda, nurtured the Taliban and created many terrorist organizations, with an aim to weaken India by carrying out terrorist acts.

What is the relation between crypto currency and Pakistan’s crude oil?

Pakistan has invested money in the crypto company of Zach Witkoff, son of Steve Witkoff, the United States special envoy to the Middle East since 2025. Zach Witkoff’s cryptocurrency firm is World Liberty Financial (WLF). Both Donald Trump’s sons and son-in-law are also shareholders in this company.

Most notably, when the tension between India and Pakistan was at its peak following Operation Sindoor, Zach Witkoff had reached Islamabad and met Shahbaz Sharif. This says a lot about what kind of deals are in the offing.

As per the sources, Donald Trump is trying to make Islamabad the ‘crypto capital’ and wants to extract crude oil from Balochistan.

What about Chinese investment in the region?

China has already invested billions of dollars in the region. So, will China allow Pakistan to enter into an agreement with America? But still Pakistan is trying to lure Donald Trump. Pakistan has a history of playing double games and it is not surprising that it is playing a double game with the USA and China too. But the main source of tension for India is the American Central Command (CENTCOM), which has suddenly cosied up to Islamabad.

Why should India be on high alert?

Last month, CENTCOM chief Michael Kurilla was given Pakistan’s highest honour and Asim Munir was invited to participate in the ceremony organized on Michael Kurilla’s retirement. CENTCOM has intelligence about extremists in the Middle East and there is a fear that Pakistan can use them against India.

That is why every partnership with America has the risk that every fund and weapon given to Pakistan in the name of war against terror will ultimately be used to wage proxy war against India, that is why now India will have to be extra cautious.