Pakistan, Feb. 4 -- Pakistan's participation in this week's US-hosted critical minerals ministerial is a reminder of how quickly diplomatic narratives can be manufactured and how quickly they can collapse when facts intrude. After a spate of commentary in India framing Islamabad's absence as inevitable-even as S. Jaishankar's presence was showcased as proof of New Delhi's growing heft-an official announcement has instead pointed to Pakistan taking its place among a wide group of states invited to discuss supply chains that underpin everything from clean energy to defence production.

The symbolism matters, but only up to a point. A seat at the table (in Washington, D.C., no less) is not an end in itself. It is an opportunity to do what Pa...