"This should be a moment for Pakistan to introspect and determine how it can effectively present itself to the international community," The Daily Times said in an editorial after India and four other members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation pulled out of a meeting of the regional grouping scheduled in Islamabad next month.
The editorial comes in the backdrop of rising tension with India that began with the attack on an army base in Uri on September 18 in which 19 soldiers were killed by Pakistan- based terrorists. In retaliation to the assault, India said it carried out "surgical strikes" across LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to destroy terrorist launchpads.
The Indian military action was supplemented by diplomatic efforts to "isolate" Pakistan, with India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka pulling out of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad on November 9-10.
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"Pakistan is in urgent need of rebranding itself, and this cannot take place unless government takes the matter of making and articulating foreign policy seriously, highlighting Pakistan's issues and honestly packaging its potential and promise."
The daily, however, conceded that India enjoys influence at the global level, mostly because of the size of its economy and the potential market it offers.