Pakistan, Aug. 1 -- The recent stir over a potential US-Pakistan oil partnership-sparked by Donald Trump's proclamation of joint energy development-has ignited a wave of hope, hype, and hard questions. Some analysts have called it "transformative," with bold parallels drawn to Saudi Arabia's rise as an energy superpower.

Trump's announcement, delivered in his signature fashion on Truth Social, promised cooperation on "massive untapped oil reserves" in Pakistan. While short on specifics, the statement signals something more enduring: a revival of transactional diplomacy that treats energy as a lever of influence. Whether this is part of a broader strategic play to offset China or simply another Trumpian flourish, Pakistan must approach it...