F ield Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, could hardly have wished for more. For almost two years he had been under fire at home over his meddling in politics. Racked by debt and insurgent violence, his country had been sidelined in geopolitics as America and other rich countries courted India, Pakistan’s arch-rival. And yet there he was, enjoying a private lunch with Donald Trump in the White House on June 18th, just over a month after Pakistan’s brief conflict with India. Then, at the end of July, came further snubs for India: branding it a “dead economy”, Mr Trump imposed tariffs of 25% while hailing a new trade deal with Pakistan. He then raised the tariff rate to 50% on August 6th.

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