The Aporia
Common ground. (2026, October 22). Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/2038881/common-ground
“Common ground.” Dawn, 22 Oct. 2026, https://www.dawn.com/news/2038881/common-ground.
“Common ground.” Dawn, October 22, 2026. https://www.dawn.com/news/2038881/common-ground.
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The political tension in Pakistan remains high following the dismissal of the elected PTI government in KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) province. The ruling coalition in Islamabad is criticized for complicating negotiations with the opposition. However, the PML-N party, echoing PPP’s recent offer, has shown willingness to re-engage on counterterrorism policy. Despite this limited scope, it presents an opportunity for dialogue amid a polarized political environment. The opposition's street agitation has not yielded significant results, and there are murmurs of disappointment within its ranks regarding the outcomes of previous discussions with the government. Both sides need to address the country’s economic, security, and governance crises collaboratively, but they continue to fail in seeing these challenges as mutual problems requiring joint efforts.
Though that may seem like a narrow scope for dialogue, in our vitiated political environment, it does offer an opening.
The ruling coalition in Islamabad deserves much of the blame for making a negotiated settlement more difficult than it seemed two weeks ago.
Regrettably, the two sides still fail to see the country’s economic, security, and governance crises as challenges that must be solved politically.
If Islamabad wants its offer to be taken seriously, it should pair it with a real gesture of good faith, starting with a meaningful voice for KP’s elected representatives in any talks.
Instead of evading Pakistan’s challenges through constant jousting and whataboutery, the political leadership needs to confront its failings.