Good news is coming from America. Let’s hope this continues — steadily and lastingly. May the bitter and painful past never return. The “Trump card” seems to be working, and the river of peace keeps flowing. When God shows mercy, all paths clear up. Success becomes destiny, and then everyone rushes to take credit for it. Though in our case, there’s no fight over who gets the credit — everyone’s in agreement. And what a rare moment of harmony that is, when every tune, rhythm, and instrument sound the same. Well, at least there’s consensus on something — even if what’s spoken aloud differs from what’s whispered in the ears.

A year ago, no one could’ve imagined that things would change like this — and keep changing. During the U.S. elections, Pakistan’s rulers were anxious and waiting. Some were worried; others were hopeful. The year changed, the air changed — and what no one could even dream of, happened.

The Trump card was played — and played so well that everyone was left watching. The regional situation flipped dramatically. Narendra Modi, once boasting of his friendship with Trump, suddenly found it hard to save face — not just globally but even within India. Trump’s name became a sore point for Modi. His war with Pakistan drowned both his politics and his country’s image. The self-proclaimed regional bully, once feared by all, could no longer show his face. Even the French began to say, “If you didn’t know how to fly the jets, why did you ruin our reputation?” China’s kite soared high, and the Muslim world was left stunned.

But when God decides to honour someone, who can stand in the way? For the first time, it felt like Pakistan’s embassies were actually doing something — otherwise, their usual record was of harassing overseas Pakistanis.

Trump skillfully used the situation to increase pressure on India — and he did it well, enjoying every bit of it. He told the world, “If I hadn’t stopped the war, India would’ve been beaten even more.” He raised tariffs so sharply that Indians began cursing Modi, saying, “Look where this man has brought us.” Pakistan, meanwhile, played every card smartly — from the investigation into the Pulwama incident, to exposing India’s state terrorism, to highlighting violations of international treaties, to Trump’s Nobel Prize nomination, to even the crypto card — and more. The success was real, though along with it, the culture of flattery also peaked. Courtiers and sycophants began singing in higher notes — notes that deafen the rulers, drowning them in such intoxication that they often end up as history.

President Trump has quite the temperament. When he shifts his gaze, it’s enough to turn a man into a “Modi.” When he extends support, one becomes a “Shehbaz Sharif,” or as he once said himself, “a great leader.” Every time the world has been kind to us, it’s been out of need — theirs, not ours. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. When that necessity ends — so does the invention. We must remain a necessity for the world. But we must also ask — how long will we depend on being someone’s need?

Fate has given us another chance — to use time wisely, to prepare ourselves, and to earn respect. But for how long? Only until our attitude changes — or necessity does. If we don’t change ourselves, we’ll once again be changed — under someone else’s need.

Tariq Mehmood has been associated with journalism for over 30 years and is currently serving as Director News at Samaa TV.