Donald Trump's return: Bad news for Pakistan? What he said about India's neighbour

In 2018, former President Donald Trump famously slammed Pakistan, accusing it of deceiving United States despite receiving over $33 billion in aid over previous 15 years. Trump called out Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists, undermining U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. He took to Twitter, declaring, “ more!” signalling a major shift in US-Pakistan relations.

Though Pakistan’s response to Trump’s rhetoric has been mixed, relationship between two nations has remained rocky, with aid and cooperation continuing to be a point of contention. Trump's first term marked a period of heightened tensions, and his second run for presidency suggests this dynamic could be amplified even furr.

A Transactional Future for US-Pakistan Relations

Recent reports suggest that under a potential second Trump ministration, US-Pakistan ties will likely remain transactional, driven primarily by Pakistan's strategic value rar than deep diplomatic engment or development assistance. former president's preference for cultivating stronger relations with India, particularly as a counterbalance to China's rising power, could leave Pakistan sidelined in future US foreign policy.
Trump’s ministration previously distanced itself from Pakistan’s concerns, especially regarding Kashmir, and such an approach may continue if he returns to office. This would likely mean less attention to longstanding issues that have historically shaped US-Pakistan relations, including situation in Afghanistan and regional security concerns.

US-India Relations: A Growing Priority

Trump’s foreign policy priorities during his first term focused heavily on strengning ties with India, often at Pakistan’s expense. As India increasingly aligns with United States in Indo-Pacific region, Trump's ministration may continue to push back against Pakistan’s long-standing strategic partnership with China. This could have implications for Pakistan’s participation in China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Ro Initiative (BRI), which has been a point of tension with India due to route passing through Pakistan-ministered Kashmir.

With China as a geopolitical rival, any furr tightening of U.S.-India relations would likely result in increased scrutiny of projects like CPEC, as well as pressure on Pakistan to curtail its collaboration with Beijing. This could furr strain Pakistan’s ecomic ties with China and heighten regional security challenges.

Trump’s Silence on Imran Khan Sparks Controversy

One of most table aspects of Trump's political stance on Pakistan in recent months has been his silence regarding imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Despite being publicly supportive of Khan in past, Trump has refrained from commenting on Khan’s ongoing legal troubles and incarceration, even as situation escalates.
Michael Kugelman, director of South Asia Institute at Wilson Center, argues that Trump's lack of engment with Khan’s plight is indicative of his broer priorities. Unlike his comments on political turmoil in Banglesh or violence against Hindus, Trump’s focus does t appear to include Pakistan’s internal political dynamics. This could signal a shift in way U.S. perceives Pakistan, with Islamab possibly relegated to a lower priority in Trump’s foreign policy nda.

Implications for Future

As Trump’s presidential campaign gains momentum, analysts are watching closely for how his foreign policy nda might evolve, particularly concerning Pakistan. If elected, Trump’s approach is likely to prioritise U.S.-India relationship, limit U.S. aid to Pakistan, and scrutinise Pakistan’s ecomic and strategic ties with China. For Pakistan, this means a potential loss of diplomatic influence and a harder path in its relationship with United States. As geopolitical landscape continues to shift, Islamab will need to apt to a changing world order, with less room for maneuvering under a Trump ministration focused on tough stances toward China and strategic partnerships in South Asia.