Pakistan's recent elections were the first civilian transfer of power in the country's troubled history. While it did take place amidst horrific violence, increasing poverty and pervasive corruption, it also held a promise of a very different future. Pakistan is likely to be more focused on economic development in the future, thanks to the transformative campaign of Imran Khan and his Tehrik-e-Insat (PTI) party. That, in turn, has substantial implications over U.S. and Chinese interests in South Asia.

In Islamabad, China is seen as a regional counterweight to Washington and NATO.
Photo Credit: Marcio Jose Bastos Silva / Shutterstock.com

On the eve of Pakistan's election, international media focused on escalating violence and suicide bombs, while Taliban jihadists vowed violence for a Muslim theocracy, gunmen abducted ex-Premier Gilani's son, and opposition leader Imran Khan campaigned from hospital bed after falling from a forklift during campaign.

The potential for fraud was reduced by biometric IC cards and a database, which eliminated 35 million bogus voters before the election. The number of voters amounted to 90 million, with 40 million first time voters.

Saturday's election was the first civilian transition of power in Pakistan's history. While it did take place amidst horrific violence, increasing poverty, and pervasive corruption, it also held a promise of a very different future.

In the coming years, Pakistan will seek to be more focused on economic development, which has significant implications over U.S. and Chinese interests in South Asia.

America's Lost Reputation

In late 2011, Newsweek asked Khan whether China is a better political or military partner for Pakistan than the United States. "China is a neighbour," he said. "China has a lot of experience pulling hundreds of millions of people out of poverty-and that's what Pakistan needs, poverty alleviation-and we can learn from China's experience in fighting corruption."

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