With a brand new government having assumed office, it is only fair to expect a fresh direction in foreign policy. Unlike the last government that continued in office for four years without a designated foreign minister, the PTI government had an experienced hand in Shah Mahmood Qureshi who was given the portfolio of a foreign minister at the outset. And he did not mince his words when he said the foreign policy would be designed and steered by the Foreign Office.

In a country where the elected governments do not see eye to eye with the military establishment especially in the realm of foreign policy, the newly elected government claims to be "on the same page" and "reading the same book" as the military. While some might see this as a problem, this sort of consensus could actually turn out well than the confusion ensuing from two alternate sources of power.

Given the dire strait of economy, the government has been made to take huge strides in engaging with its allies rather early, which appears to have huge foreign policy implications. There was of course a carryover from the past in projects like the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Conceived in the 2008-2013 Pakistan People’s Party government, CPEC began its operations in the last PML-N government as a "game-changer" and is still touted as Pakistan’s best survival bet. There has been a constant slide in the relations with the United States, and it was natural that Pakistan moved into the Russia-China sphere, through organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

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Honestly, the PTI government has not articulated any real break from Pakistan’s consistent foreign policy goal-posts. Instead, there have been many faux pas -- in the manner in which it has handled its engagements and dealings, especially with the US, Saudi Arabia and India. At least that’s how experts look at it. In our Special Report today, we have looked at Pakistan’s relations with the US, China, Saudi Arabia and India in particular. It is too early to predict success or failure, but it is hoped the government will be able to restore Pakistan’s status as a peaceful, peace-loving and dignified state.