Islamabad, April 15 -- The "Islamabad Peace Process" may have paused the missiles, but for Pakistan's economy, the war of attrition has moved to the high seas. Following the collapse of direct US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad last week, a U.S.-led naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is now threatening to push Pakistan's fragile financial recovery into a "structural trap."

Speaking to ANI, former Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry warned on Wednesday that the middle class is "already feeling the heat" of a crisis that is no longer just diplomatic, but deeply personal for millions of Pakistanis.

"The economic impact on Pakistan is obviously far greater because the pressure on our foreign reserves cannot afford such expensive...