The Great Game Redux: Is the West’s Aid Surge to Pakistan an Attempted Checkmate Against China’s BRI? The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have intensified financial support to Pakistan, raising eyebrows about a Western counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). While Pakistan grapples with debt and economic woes, China’s BRI offers strategic infrastructure with no governance strings, fueling its regional clout. Western aid, laden with reform demands, may aim to dilute this influence, but is it containment or economic pragmatism? This article dissects the geopolitical chessboard, exploring how Pakistan’s economic distress becomes a battleground for global powers, with irony as the West plays catch-up. Geopolitical Tug-of-War in Pakistan’s Backyard Picture this: Pakistan, a nation perpetually teetering on the edge of economic collapse, finds itself courted by two...