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Imran Khan's victory speech may have aroused hopes in Pakistan, as many leaders do around the world when they seem idealistic and authentic in their early speeches.
Khan proposed simplistic solutions to complex problems, as if everything would be put in place once he was the prime minister. They were similar to his claim that as the United States stopped drone strikes, the Taliban would disappear.
At the national level, the first problem Khan faces would be allegations of manipulation of the elections. This is not new in Pakistan.
The losing side has always made such allegations. Khan did the same in 2013, even launched a sustained campaign. So, he's going to have a taste of his own medicine.
While the Pakistani electorate must be commended for defeating radical Islamic parties, what really hurts these outfits is the lack of adequate support from the Pakistani army that has weighed heavily on Khan.
This is a good sign. Even Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal lost both seats in her home from Dera Ismail Khan to Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.
It must be said that at the present time there is no concrete evidence of manipulation on polling day by the Pakistani army and in any case the recalcitrant parties will be firmly treated by the political wing of the ISI. Sharif and her candid daughter will be an example. The economy of Pakistan, which is the next big challenge, can not be addressed without addressing the concerns of the international community.
Pakistan needs foreign investment and financial support. It is on the United Nations Financial Action Group's gray list for non-compliance with the financing of terrorism. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed's participation in the Jamaat-ud Dawa banned from elections will only make things worse.
Finally, it comes down to where and in what direction Khan wants to take Pakistan. If the idea is to appear as a responsible member of the international community, then it must change its security paradigm, particularly towards India and Afghanistan. He can not hide behind the farce created by the Pakistani army in India.
S? He tries to move away from the narrative of the army on the? Jihad? region, it is likely to suffer the same consequences as Sharif. The elimination of corruption was the main electoral plaque of Khan. How will it deal with "legitimized" corruption by the Pakistani army, their opulent lifestyle and their campaigns to acquire dubious land? Pakistan needs decisive leadership to change the direction in which the country is heading. This is a daunting task, where, frankly, Khan's excellence in cricket will be of little use.
The author is a former staff member of the IB who served in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan
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