Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America. Trump’s ascendency to the Oval Office spells the initiation of unpredictable times for the South Asian region. His speeches during the election race are not writing on the wall per se, in terms of what his policy is going to be towards Pakistan in particular; however, there are several inferences to be drawn based on the relevant bits and pieces. For instance, Trump had been vocal on Twitter after the OBL saga asking Pakistan to apologize for hiding the arch nemesis of the US. He has voiced concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear program besides questioning the lofty sums in aid the US has sent to Pakistan. This factum of aid sent in billions to countries abroad was highlighted by him in his inauguration speech as well. This does not mean that Trump was referring specifically to Pakistan when he said this and there seems to be no mass to that either. He has been tussling with Germany over the military aid it gets from the US. An interesting tirade in this regard was witnessed between the Germans and Trump when he postulated that every other American household has a Mercedes-Benz (a German manufacturer) parked outside its doors, while barely any Chevrolet (an American manufacturer) is seen in Germany. The same goes for the outsourced manufacturing industry of American companies in countries such as China which is taking a toll on the American economy. His protectionist ideology—which in simpler terms is a curtailment on the lavish spending on aid, both military and civilian, and on the resulting net outflow of cash from the US—has been a constant feature of his speeches during the election race as well. Effectively, it does mean that Pakistan is going to see more of the stick on action against sanctuaries of terrorists within its borders. Trump also sees India as its mainstay regional ally now to counter the effect of China; and, if India taps into that potential lobby to give-and-take on action against Pakistan, it could indeed get a little tricky for Pakistan. Pakistan is in a precarious position as it has drawn multiple diplomatic battlefronts with India recently; for example the water disputes under the Indus Waters Treaty and entry into the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. It needs Trump to follow through on his expressed desire to mediate between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. Throw the contentious Dr. ShakeelAfridi in the equation and it almost becomes insolvably intricate. Trump has been quoted demanding the release of Dr. ShakeelAfridi and the reason he provided for this demand was the droves of aid being sent to Pakistan. With Trump’s resounding slogans of ‘America First’, it is clear that self-interests of America are going to take a priority over international altruism. Pakistan, in a bid to get its interests in mediation over the line, will need to accede to Trump’s demands as well.Only time will tell what Pakistan ends up giving in the bargain. *