SINCE early 2025, Pakistan’s relations with the US have taken an upturn after years of mutual disenchantment.
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relations → take → disenchantment
Why did the US opt for this reset?
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US → opt → reset
And will this bonhomie last?
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bonhomie → last → ?
Historically, Pakistan and the US have come close only when their interests converged.
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interests → come → ?
America has preferred a transactional relationship with Pakistan based on specific issues of its geopolitical agenda.
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America → prefer → agenda
The recent thaw in ties can, therefore, be better understood in terms of how global geopolitics is evolving.
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geopolitics → understand → terms
It is no longer a unipolar world led by the US.
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It → lead → US
Since the dawn of this century, several centres of power have arisen while the US remains entangled in long, distant wars.
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US → arise → wars
The US reliance on its military might to subdue adversaries has taken a heavy toll on America’s world standing.
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reliance → subdue → standing
Into this evolving geometry of global power politics stepped Donald Trump, who has ruptured the trans-Atlantic alliance, pulled back support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, and sought to stabilise America’s ties with China.
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who → evolve → China
However, nothing has compromised America’s domestic and international standing more than the recent US-Iran war.
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nothing → compromise → war
As for Pakistan-US ties, three developments seem to have contributed to the recent thaw.
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developments → seem → thaw
First is Pakistan’s role in countering terrorism.
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role → counter → terrorism
In March 2025, President Trump thanked Pakistan in his State of the Union address to Congress for apprehending the mastermind of a bombing in Kabul on the eve of the US exit from Afghanistan.
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Trump → thank → Afghanistan
Later, Centcom chief Gen Michael Kurilla described Pakistan to Congress as a “phenomenal partner in the world of counterterrorism”.
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Kurilla → describe → counterterrorism
In June 2025, Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief for lunch at the White House.
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Trump → host → House
And in August, BLA was designated as a terrorist organisation by the US.
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BLA → designate → US
Three developments seem to have contributed to the recent thaw.
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developments → seem → thaw
Second, the US, like the rest of the world, saw Pakistan robustly counter Indian aggression in May 2025.
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Pakistan → see → May
The US mediated a ceasefire on May 10.
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US → mediate → May
Pakistan acknowledged America’s positive role.
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Pakistan → acknowledge → role
New Delhi, on the other hand, was reluctant to acknowledge Trump’s role, even though India itself had asked the US to secure a ceasefire.
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India → acknowledge → ceasefire
Third, Pakistan’s mediatory role in the recent US-Iran conflict has convinced Washington of Pakistan’s important role as a net stability provider in the region.
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role → convince → region
Meanwhile, America’s distrust of India has deepened because the latter has bought Russian oil while ignoring US sanctions, and has maintained continued economic ties with China while pretending to be a US partner to counterbalance China.
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latter → deepen → China
America is no longer convinced that India can be a trustworthy counterweight to China.
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India → convince → China
How will this reset impact Pakistan’s other key relationship?
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reset → impact → relationship
In an era where cooperation and confrontation coexist, Pakistan has ample space to pursue mutually beneficial relations with both China and the US based on its own national interest.
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Pakistan → coexist → interest
India is upset at the uptick in Pakistan’s ties with the US, and its own failure to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.
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India → upset → Pakistan
As for Afghanistan, the US has not shown any interest in it, even as the country is on the cusp of becoming a safe haven for world terrorists.
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country → show → terrorists
The US is also aware of the fine balance that Pakistan has always maintained in its ties with both Iran and Saudi Arabia.
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Pakistan → maintain → Iran
How should Pakistan use this reset in its relationship with the US, even if it was transactional, for mutual benefit?
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it → use → benefit
Several promising areas can be identified: Pakistan must ensure that its share of flourishing trade with the US is maintained and enhanced.
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share → identify → US
The US offers bright prospects for Pakistan’s young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs, IT exports, startups, software development, growing digital adoption, and e-commerce.
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US → offer → entrepreneurs
American companies should be encouraged to invest in Pakistan’s shale oil potential and minerals sector, especially lithium, rare earth elements, and copper — crucial for the semiconductor industry, defence technology and robotics, among others.
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companies → encourage → others
Other promising areas of cooperation include defence, security, and counterterrorism.
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areas → include → defence
Agriculture has been a legacy area of cooperation since the 1950s, as have education and public health.
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education → have → 1950s
However, all this will only be possible if Pakistan addresses its policy and regulatory hurdles, cost of doing business, security risks, and infrastructure issues.
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Pakistan → address → business
Today’s Pakistan stands tall as a competent, self-confident power that can contribute to regional peace, stability, and development.
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that → stand → peace
However, this window of opportunity may be limited because global geopolitics is constantly evolving.
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geopolitics → limit → opportunity
What matters most is making the best use of the recent thaw in Pakistan-US ties while preserving our other key relationships, including with China.
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matters → matter → China
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
