The 4-day war between Pakistan and India, which occurred in May of this year, has quite clearly shifted the regional military calculus and recalibrated global alliances. India’s military credibility has been seriously shaken, and Pakistan has emerged stronger. The geopolitical landscape of South Asia appears to be undergoing a seismic transformation.
Diplomatic relations between the United States and Pakistan have been complex since the latter’s independence in 1947. There have been periods of close cooperation and those of significant concerns and turmoil. However, as of 2025, the ties between the US and Pakistan have changed and evolved. There is cautious recalibration based on geopolitical significance and priorities in the region.
The Current Status of the US-Pakistan Relations as of 2025
These two countries have experienced significantly strained ties, particularly after the US departure from Afghanistan in 2021. The conflict between Pakistan and India, which began on May 7, 2025, gave new meaning to the diplomatic relations between these two countries, specifically with the US President Donald Trump administration.
On March 4 of this year, President Trump addressed the joint session of the US Congress in which he referred to the devastating Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul Airport in August of 2021. As thousands of Afghans were being evacuated from their country following the takeover of the Taliban government, a bombing took place, claiming the lives of hundreds of Afghan civilians and members of the United States military. President Trump credited Pakistan for the arrest of the alleged perpetrator. He stated, “I want to thank, especially the government of Pakistan, for helping arrest this monster.”
In another surprising event, three months after his speech to Congress, President Trump hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for lunch at the White House. This marked the very first time a US President hosted a military leader from Pakistan who is not the country’s head of state. This marks a sharp departure from the narrative for President Trump, who just seven years ago had accused Pakistan of giving the US “nothing but lies and deceit” and “providing a safe haven for terrorists.”
The invitation to reset relationships on positive grounds by Trump clearly marks a departure from the mostly Indian-based negative narrative, which existed for many years, to maliciously manipulate successive US administrations that Pakistan was the hub of terrorism (although many of the terrorist attacks could be attributed to Indian RAW’s false flag operations). Trump has, according to his actions, understood this manipulation by Pakistan’s neighbor and evidently is not willing to give in to it any longer.
Topics of Discussion at the White House Meeting
Cooperation and Counterterrorism:
The United States views Pakistan as a key strategic partner in the fight against terrorism against such groups as the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K).
Trade and Economic Ties:
Pakistan’s largest export market is the United States. Bilateral trade between these two countries amounted to $6.5 billion in 2019, with Pakistan having a slight surplus. The US invests in Pakistan’s sectors such as technology, energy, and consumer goods. It is noteworthy, however, that this year, President Trump has imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistan’s imports.
Geopolitics:
This perhaps hits the nail on the head as to why President Trump is so keen on strategically restructuring the US’s relationship with Pakistan: the China factor.
Based in Houston, United States, the writer is the executive director of a US-based human rights organization. She can be reached at scballand@thechrd.org
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