Pak- US Strategic Drift or Tactical Realignment

Pakistan–U.S. Relations After Trump Era 1.0

Indus Daily Analysis | Washington–Islamabad–

Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, Pakistan finds itself navigating a more transactional and India-centric U.S. foreign policy. The Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at countering China, has pushed Washington closer to New Delhi, leaving Islamabad in a strategic gray zone .

Yet, Pakistan remains too nuclear, too populous, and too geopolitically placed to be ignored. As former ambassador Husain Haqqani notes, “The U.S. simply cannot ignore a nuclear-armed Muslim country with 240 million people” .

• Counterterrorism Recalibration: Pakistan could regain relevance if threats from al-Qaeda or ISKP escalate, or if the U.S. targets Iranian proxies in the region .
• Reduced Military Dependency: Pakistan is no longer reliant on U.S. arms, leaning instead on China’s defense ecosystem, which unnerves Washington .
• Diplomatic Milestones: Pakistan’s recent leadership roles at UNSC and UNIDO signal a pivot toward multilateralism and away from bilateral dependency .