It is now apparent that the killing of terror-in-chief Ayman Al Zawahiri by a drone strike was a pivotal moment on several counts. It rendered  a big blow to the Taliban, which had incensed the Americans by  forcing their unceremonious exit from Kabul a year ago, and completely uprooting Washington’s  stronghold in Central Asia.

But by shredding Zawahiri in a safehouse whose custodianship could be traced to interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, the US deflated the Taliban’s campaign that it no longer sheltered terror. Consequently, international recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, and release of billions of dollars of much needed frozen funds, has received a hefty blow.

Pres. Biden announced that an operation killed top Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, a plotter of 9/11!

The CIA drone strike killed Zawahiri without harming family members in the house.

Terrorist leaders Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri eliminated by Democrats!#Resist #DemVoice1 pic.twitter.com/MSdtB76O86

— James Aymann (@AymannJames) August 2, 2022

While the Americans' role in targeting Zawahiri and weakening the Taliban is apparent, Pakistan’s behind-the-scenes but critical support is less visible.  Nevertheless, there is compelling circumstantial evidence that shows that Pakistani  inputs were critical in killing Al Zawahiri, thus aiding Washington’s cause. 

In trying to distance Islamabad’s role in the killing, sections of the Pakistani  media have  reported that  the drone that killed Zawahiri flew from a US base in Kyrgyzstan. This is highly improbable as the US no longer has any operational base in Central Asia. The Americans handed over the Ganci air base to the Kyrgyz in 2014 itself. 

On the contrary there is a strong likelihood that the drone took off  from the Gulf. What route could it have possibly taken? Flying over Iranian airspace is impossible, given the poor health of Iran-US ties, and Tehran’s vigilance over its skies. Flying around Central Asia to reach a target in downtown Kabul would  have charted too long a route. The best, most convenient  and the most logical option would have been to fly the drone through Pakistani airspace, with active  support of Islamabad.

There are clear strategic reasons for Pakistanis to play ball with the Americans . First, with the ouster of the pro-China Prime Minister Imran Khan, a pro-US establishment led by a combination of the army chief, Gen. Javed Qamar Bajwa and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken over Islamabad.  Helping the Americans to kill Zawahiri would have provided Washington with evidence that there has been a genuine change of heart in Pakistan, and the new administration in Islamabad can be trusted.  

Such a step would have been necessary to prove to the Americans a fundamental  foreign policy shift away from the recent years when former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan  publicly demonstrated his hostility towards the Americans and loudly bonded with the Chinese.

Having proved his loyalty to the Americans, Gen. Bajwa now appears all set to visit Washington. The Pakistani daily Dawn is reporting that the US and Pakistani officials are discussing the possibility of the General's visit  either in end August or early September. The US Centcom commander, General Michael Erik Kurilla is already in Islamabad before the Army Chief’s heads for Washington.

Ahead of his likely visit, Bajwa has already been working with the US establishment to address some of Islamabad’s core concerns. A day after Zawahiri killing Bajwa took the unusual step of calling US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, requesting her to weigh in on the IMF to first 1.2-billion-dollar tranche to bailout Pakistan’s hyper- anaemic economy.

Gen. Bajwa's call to Wendy Sherman shouldn't be taken lightly. BIG QUESTION. Why would USA listen to him supposedly retiring in 3 months unless he's offered USA something they want. Denuclearization? Bases? Delink from China & that he has plans to stay on & @ImranKhanPTI is out? pic.twitter.com/6HKQ2lD42y

— Haider Mehdi (@SHaiderRMehdi) July 31, 2022

In yet another signal that he was feverishly courting the West, Bajwa landed in London, which went overboard to pamper the General from Pakistan. Playing on Pakistan’s proven vanity, the British invited Bajwa to address them at the Sandhurst military academy. Unsurprisingly, Gen. Bajwa showered fulsome praise on the British. 

According to the UK’s Defence Ministry, General Bajwa represented the queen at the sovereign’s parade for commissioning course 213 (CC213) of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS)—a step which India would have summarily rejected.

On the contrary, Gen. Bajwa said that representing the Queen was a “unique honour and great privilege”.

Proud moment for British Pakistanis , first time in the history of uk Pak Army cheif General Qamer Javaid Bajwa was the chief guest of Sandhurst military academy passing out prade 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RL6nvWIbEo

— Shaukat Dar (@ShaukatUk) August 12, 2022

In another step that is bound to please the West, the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, symbolically but powerfully appeared to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Videos released of the Pakistani national day celebrations show Bajwa and his entourage clapping to the musical performance of Kamaliya, (real name Natalya Shmarenkova)  the Ukrainian wife of the pro-Kiev  Pakistani origin industrialist Muhammad Zahoor, who has moved to London after Russia-Ukraine conflict began.

#COAS #Bajwa celebrated #IndependenceDay2022 at #PakHighCommission #London.
Singer is wife of multi-millionaire Zahoor. Those who have been to #Ukraine or been in military purchase business would know the businessman & his interests.#Pakistan #PakistanAt75 #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/6hiKOLFIyY

— Rabia Malik (@RabiaMalik01) August 15, 2022

Zahoor’s links with the Ukrainian establishment are deep. The billionaire is the former publisher of Kyiv Post. He has reportedly helped purchase two fighter jets for Ukraine's air force to fight Russia.

In a May 18 talk show Kamaliya Zahoor revealed the fighter jet story. "Zahoor gave me the green light to tell this. Because they [Mohammad Zahoor and other donors] hid these issues. They gave two fighter jets to Ukraine and help Ukraine, but do not disclose."

In the quid pro quo to the Pakistani moves, steps are being taken  for the return of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif  to Pakistan to add decisive weight to the anti-Imran Khan coalition. The IMF is also expected to cooperate in the release of the first tranche of the much loan to  Pakistan. Simultaneously, some of US’ Gulf allies appear set to pool in additional loans to add financial stability to Pakistan. Gen. Bajwa’s pro-west pivot has 360 degree ramifications—something that is unlikely to please China, Islamabad’s  “iron brother,” but that is another story.

Also Read: After Ayman Al Zawahiri, did Pakistan and the US work together to kill TTP leader Khorasani?

Also Read: Did Pakistan help US eliminate Ayman Al Zawahiri in Afghanistan?