(Image source: FT)
In a remarkable shift in South Asia’s geopolitical landscape, Pakistan has successfully recalibrated its relationship with the United States under the Trump administration. Once viewed with suspicion and frustration, Islamabad has managed to secure unprecedented access and goodwill at the highest levels of the U.S. government, even as relations with its arch-rival India have deteriorated.
The Financial Times recently chronicled how Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, won warm receptions from President Trump and top U.S. military officials—an extraordinary diplomatic feat given the historical ups and downs between Washington and Islamabad. Notably, this included a private two-hour lunch with Trump in June 2025, shortly after Pakistan and India engaged in their deadliest military confrontation in decades.
A key element in Pakistan’s diplomatic resurgence has been tangible counterterrorism cooperation. In 2023, Islamabad’s arrest of a senior ISIS-K leader implicated in deadly attacks, was publicly acknowledged by both Pakistani and U.S. officials. This success played a pivotal role in reshaping U.S. perceptions and helped open doors to renewed engagement.
Economically, Pakistan leveraged its relatively lower U.S. tariffs—approximately 19%—compared to India’s punitive 50%, following Washington’s withdrawal of India’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2019. Beyond tariffs, Pakistan actively promoted its mineral wealth and embraced innovative sectors such as cryptocurrency, seeking to attract American investment and revitalize its bailout-dependent economy.
On the geopolitical stage, Pakistan has adeptly positioned itself as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran, drawing upon historical ties with Tehran and its key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This balancing act among the U.S., China, and Iran accentuates Islamabad’s strategic intent to maintain relevance amid competing global powers.
Unsurprisingly, India has reacted with displeasure. New Delhi publicly dismissed Trump’s claims of U.S.-brokered ceasefire mediation and expressed frustration over the tariff differential favoring Pakistan. India’s long-standing Kashmir dispute and suspended GSP status add layers of complexity to this triangular dynamic.
The fundamental question is whether Pakistan’s outreach signals a genuine strategic realignment or a largely transactional diplomacy designed to maximize short-term gains. As analyst Michael Kugelman notes, Pakistan is walking a diplomatic tightrope—engaging opportunistically without fully committing to a single alliance, thereby preserving flexibility amid great-power competition.
For Washington, Pakistan’s diplomatic revival presents both opportunity and risk. Engagement must be realistic—acknowledging Pakistan’s strategic importance while demanding transparency and a firm commitment to regional stability. While transactional diplomacy may open doors, enduring peace depends on principled, sustained partnerships.
Pakistan’s recent diplomacy exemplifies a blend of pragmatism and opportunism. The true measure of success will be the durability of these ties and their impact on South Asia’s security environment. Through transparent, consistent engagement, the U.S. and Pakistan can build a foundation for stability that transcends temporary political expediency.
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Sources
- Financial Times, “How Pakistan Wooed Trump — and Rattled India,” by John Reed, Humza Jilani, and James Politi, August 2025.
- Dawn News English, Pakistan Between US, China & Iran: Geopolitical Balancing Act, Michael Kugelman, August 7, 2025.
- United States Trade Representative (USTR), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Program.
- Dawn, Arrest of wanted terrorist breaks ice with Washington (
- Council on Foreign Relations, The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor—Hard Reality Greets BRI’s Signature Initiative
- ALJAZEERA, US-India relations hit new low despite Trump-Modi bromance: What’s next?
- The News, How Pakistan wooed Trump and rattled India: FT (August 12, 2025)
