In recent months, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has taken a dramatic turn. Under the second term of Donald Trump, Washington has re-engaged Islamabad in ways that mark a departure from the previous US policy of keeping a wary distance from Pakistan’s military establishment and its links to cross-border terror. Some analysts argue this shift rewards Pakistan despite decades of strategic failings.
A striking signal of the reset came when Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir visited Washington and met President Trump. Multiple outlets noted how the meeting rekindled warmer ties. One analyst observed: “The Trump administration has quickly moved to embrace Pakistan, even as its relationship with India has suffered.”
The pivot appears to be driven less by strict US strategic priorities and more by transactional incentives. The US is reportedly eyeing Pakistan’s vast natural-resources potential and its interest in cryptocurrency and energy deals. As one piece of analysis put it: “Trump’s overtures toward Pakistan in his second term must be understood through the prism of his fundamentally transactional worldview.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan has taken advantage, leveraging its military-backed regime and offering potential cooperation in sectors the US finds attractive.
Pakistan’s strategic gain, India’s concern
For Pakistan the reset with Washington comes at a time when it has long been isolated diplomatically for its sponsorship of terror and unstable governance. The friendly overtures from the US offer Islamabad legitimacy and relief from pressure. For India, this signals a worrying revival of Pakistan as a US partner of convenience, rather than a strategic liability. An expert writing on the issue warned: “If the US deepens its embrace of Pakistan without caution, it risks enabling Islamabad to act as a swing-state between Washington and Beijing.”
India, though maintaining its close partnership with the U.S., is uneasy about third-party diplomatic scripts that position Pakistan on equal footing in South Asia. Delhi has consistently held that mediation in its bilateral issues is unacceptable.
What this means for Pakistan’s role
Pakistan’s gains from this shift are manifold.
First, it receives a diplomatic boost from the US, which implicitly accepts the Pakistani military’s primacy in decision-making. This undercuts civilian governance and may embolden the military establishment.
Second, the economic incentives are immediate. Pakistan is reportedly in talks with US investors for energy and critical-minerals projects. One report observed that Pakistan’s push into crypto and its mineral-rich but under-developed western regions attract US interest.
Third, Pakistan’s past behaviour -- tolerating terror groups and enabling cross-border violence -- appears to have been discounted in return for short-term transactional gains. That is a troubling signal for regional stability and for countries that have borne the cost of Pakistan’s proxy warfare.
Why this shift is problematic
From a critical standpoint, Pakistan is benefitting from a policy shift that overlooks its core problems. The country remains plagued by political instability, weak institutions and open support for militant networks. Analysts argue Washington is ignoring these for immediate leverage and deals. One commentary noted that Pakistan’s relevance to the US stems from how it can be “instrumentalised” rather than how it can act as a reliable partner.
Granting Pakistan strategic indulgence now sends the message that military dominance, not governance or reform, is what yields US access. This undermines democratic norms and dilutes India’s legitimate security concerns about Pakistan’s terror sanctuaries.
Where do things go from here?
Several key factors will shape how this reset plays out.
- Whether Pakistan delivers on real reforms: Without genuine change in how Pakistan treats terror groups or strengthens its civilian oversight, its utility remains transactional.
- How the US balances India and Pakistan: Washington must reconcile its longstanding strategic partnership with India and its revived engagement with Pakistan -- both cannot be treated equally without strategic contradictions.
- What India decides to do: India must remain vigilant about the US–Pakistan tilt and re-assert its own strategic partnerships. Its diplomacy in Washington will matter.
- Realisation of economic deals: If Pakistan fails to transform its natural-resource potential into meaningful growth coupled with governance reforms, the policy shift may backfire on both Islamabad and Washington.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
