Pakistan, June 1 -- The European Union's (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, is due in Islamabad today at a special invitation from Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the eighth session of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. That Kallas is coming to Pakistan twice in a span of six months speaks volumes about the importance attached to the strategic engagement plan signed by both sides in June 2019.

In recent months, Islamabad has had to speak simultaneously to power centres in every direction. Recognition from Washington, Beijing and Riyadh could easily tempt any state into beating the drum, waving the flag and declaring the match won before the innings is over. The Foreign Office, to its credit, has avoided that trap,...