Following the recent India-Pakistan war, a sudden shift in the US regional policy was observed. The Trump administration showed a remarkable tilt towards Pakistan. However, just as in the past, this tilt toward Pakistan is driven by regional aspirations.
The United States improved its relations with India, the regional arch-rival of Pakistan, to counter China soon after its withdrawal from Afghanistan. Islamabad saw this move as a betrayal by its decades-old ally. The United States’ deepening ties with India were primarily aimed at countering China’s growing regional influence. Washington also exerted diplomatic and financial pressure on Pakistan to halt its cooperation with China, especially on the CPEC. This led to further deterioration of the bilateral relations between the two sides.
US-India Ties and the Strategic Shift
In the years that followed, the United States supported India on various forums. Moreover, the US-India military relations and defense ties also intensified over the past few years. It even showed its desire to provide modern weapons and aircraft to India, including the F-35 fighter jets, to cement its strategic relations with India. QUAD has also been revived by the United States to strengthen the regional alliance against the rising Eastern bloc. All these actions were primarily motivated by the US intent to penalize Pakistan for its increasing engagement with China and to curtail the rapid rise of Beijing.
However, the recent policy reversal by the United States has once again corroborated the fact that it can never be a trustworthy ally. Moreover, the mercurial personality of President Donald Trump also adds to the unreliability and uncertainty of the US foreign policy. The United States shifted its weight in Pakistan’s favor soon after the ceasefire in the India-Pakistan War in 2025. Field Marshal General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, was invited to an official dinner in the White House by US President Donald Trump. He also praised Pakistan and its military leadership multiple times during his press conferences.
President Trump also praised Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir for his positivity during the ceasefire negotiations between India and Pakistan. However, the lunch invitation drew mixed from analysts around the world. Indeed, it was an unprecedented move to officially invite and discuss bilateral issues with the military leadership of a country, strengthening concerns over the United States’ regard for democratic values. Nonetheless, this meeting between the military leadership of the two sides holds numerous consequences for the region. The US wanted Pakistan to play a positive role in mitigating the Middle East crisis.
A Cautious Reengagement by Pakistan
Following the White House meeting, General Asim Munir visited Turkey on his return and met with the Turkish official, indicating Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in regional stability. Furthermore, due to a shameful defeat to the Western pro-Israel narrative around the world – including its own masses, the failure of the Ukraine plan, and the rapid rise of the Eastern bloc – led by China and Russia, the United States acknowledges the strategic significance of Pakistan. After years of economic and diplomatic blackmailing, it now seeks to lure Pakistan through temporary financial aid and diplomatic support to abstain from strengthening its relations with Russia and China.
Moreover, the US shift towards Pakistan is also due to the strengthening relations of the regional countries with Russia and China. The recent development of Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan is a manifestation of its expanding influence over the regional countries. Iran is also one of the closest regional allies of Russia and China. It is also a member of the BRICS organization. Similarly, many other South Asian and Middle Eastern countries are showing their tilt towards the Eastern bloc.
On the other hand, India due to its tilt towards the United States is facing difficulty in maintaining its cordial relations with the regional powers, rendering it less useful for the US to achieve its regional geostrategic ambitions. Therefore, the United States once again seeks to use Pakistan to pursue its regional ambitions. However, past experiences have taught the Pakistani policymakers significant lessons. Therefore, the United States will not gain any enthusiastic response from Pakistan. Islamabad no longer pursues a geopolitics-based foreign policy. It has shifted its foreign policy focus to the geo-economics. Therefore, it will keep all its options open. Pakistan will continue to enhance its relations with Russia, China, Iran, and other regional countries to get rid of its economic woes and improve its international stature.
Taut Bataut – is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics
