WASHINGTON -- When Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, scion of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Zardari, took over as Pakistan's youngest foreign minister in April, the country stood on the brink of economic default and diplomatic isolation.
Pakistan was overburdened by loans from its main ally China and faced hard negotiations in its bid for support from the International Monetary Fund. It was being outperformed in most sectors by archrival India and was beset by terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan. Moreover, the U.S. -- its on-again, off-again partner -- was being blamed by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan for orchestrating "regime change."
