The year 2025 has been marked with a dramatic shift in geopolitical alliances. The Pak-US relations which have always been described as “inconsistent”, “complex” and “turbulent” experienced a reset. On the other hand, the “special bond” between the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and President Trump which was making rounds in the media at the start of the year showed signs of strain.
Pak-US relations had been at an all time low since the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The US administration saw Pakistan as an unreliable partner, wary of its counter terrorism commitments, despite the sacrifices Pakistan made in its war against terrorism. Much of the frayed relations between Pakistan and the US owed to the US-India and Pak-China relations. India’s relevance as a counterbalance to China; Pakistan’s closeness with China have mostly kept Washington displeased with Pakistan.
However, the year 2025 witnessed a surprising turn in the White House’s relations with Islamabad and New Delhi. The US leaned back from India-first posture and started to view Pakistan as a stronger ally. While the signs of diplomatic thaw began to appear in early 2025 when President Trump lauded Pakistan for its counter-terrorism efforts, the May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India marked a watershed moment.
The level of military discipline, asymmetric capabilities, and strategic reach showcased by Pakistan left many stunned, reasserting Pakistan’s importance in the South Asian region. The rift between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi which began with deadlock over trade talks was further compounded by India’s military performance and vehement denial of Trump’s role in ending the May conflict.
Pakistan’s shift towards economic cooperation and trade relations over military aid is positive.
On the flip side, Pakistan not only praised Trump’s role in brokering the ceasefire deal but also nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize which reinforced President Trump’s self-constructed image as a “peace maker”, further bringing a perceptible tilt in his posture towards Pakistan.
Resultantly, unlike the previous Pak-US engagements which were mainly focused on security, Pak and US are now actively engaging in multi-domain cooperation; for example, trade and investment, critical mineral and mining, information technology and artificial intelligence.
Pakistan’s critical mineral reserves makes it strategically important for the US to diversify its supply chain, given the increasing global competition over resources. Moreover, Washington also realizes that completely sidelining Pakistan could drift Pakistan further into China’s orbit; therefore, to prevent that, the US is increasingly offering alternative trading opportunities, economic support and security cooperation to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s shift towards economic cooperation and trade relations over military aid is positive. It must leverage this achievement to get closer to the US and cement its importance as a stronger partner in the South Asian region.
By engaging the US through economic cooperation rather than dependency, Pakistan can advance its development goals while safeguarding its national interests. If sustained, this approach can enhance Pakistan’s global standing, attract investment, and secure long-term economic stability, positioning the country as a stronger and more influential partner in South Asia.
The writer is a freelance columnist.