Soft coup in Pakistan?: General Bajwa to be part of Xi-Imran meet

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is in China on a 3-day visit to discuss issues of regional and bilateral significance, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

During his visit, the Pakistan PM will hold separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is accompanying Khan on the visit and will be meeting the Chinese military leadership.

Bajwa will also join Imran Khan for his meetings with the political leaders. 

Now, General Bajwa's presence during political engagements has become all-pervasive.

Some experts call it a soft coup by the Pakistani army.

Once again, every important decision in Pakistan has the stamp of the armed forces.

Bajwa had accompanied Imran Khan during his maiden visit to the United States. He was there during his UNGA speech where Imran spoke about India and Kashmir but failed to garner any support against India.

General Bajwa is also a member of all-powerful Pakistan's development council.

Recently, Bajwa met business leaders in Pakistan to address economic issues facing Pakistan's economy — something, usually, a civilian government would do.

General Bajwa's presence alongside Imran Khan, during his meetings with foreign dignitaries at international forums, is a clear indication of the fact that the Pak army wants a decisive say in the country's foreign policy.

Pakistan is going through an unusual period in which the democratically elected government and the army appear to be working in sync. 

But General Bajwa's meeting with Pakistan's business leaders and his presence in the all-important meeting in China indicates that the Pakistani army has lost all faith in Khan after his failure at the UNGA.