{"id":1315,"date":"2025-06-19T11:35:20","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2025\/06\/19\/trump-embraces-pakistan-tactical-romance-or-a-new-inner-circle\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T11:35:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:35:20","slug":"trump-embraces-pakistan-tactical-romance-or-a-new-inner-circle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2025\/06\/19\/trump-embraces-pakistan-tactical-romance-or-a-new-inner-circle\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump embraces Pakistan: \u2018Tactical romance\u2019 or a new \u2018inner circle\u2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Islamabad, Pakistan \u2013<\/strong> In his first address to a joint session<\/a> of Congress on March 4 this year, after becoming United States president for a second time, Donald Trump made a striking revelation.<\/p>\n

He referred to the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021 \u2013 which occurred as thousands of Afghans tried to flee following the Taliban takeover \u2013 and said the alleged perpetrator had been apprehended.<\/p>\n

The country he credited<\/a> with the arrest: Pakistan. \u201cI want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster,\u201d Trump declared.<\/p>\n

A little more than three months later, Trump hosted Pakistan\u2019s army chief Asim Munir for lunch at the White House on Wednesday \u2014 the first time a US president has hosted a military chief from Pakistan who isn\u2019t also the country\u2019s head of state. Munir is on a five-day trip to the US.<\/p>\n

For a country that Trump had, just seven years earlier, accused of giving the US \u201cnothing but lies and deceit\u201d and safe havens to terrorists \u2013 and one that his immediate predecessor Joe Biden called<\/a> \u201cone of the most dangerous nations\u201d \u2013 this marks a dramatic shift.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reset that experts say has been in the making for weeks, under Trump\u2019s second administration, and that was solidified by the brief but intense military confrontation<\/a> between India and Pakistan in May, during which the US tried to mediate a ceasefire.<\/p>\n

Some analysts warn that the evolving relationship should be viewed as a product of Trump\u2019s personal position, rather than institutional policy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are dealing with an administration which changes its tune by the hour. There is no process here,\u201d Marvin Weinbaum, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI), told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne minute the US has no interest, and the next minute priorities change rapidly. You\u2019re dealing with an administration that is mercurial and personalised, and you don\u2019t associate that with traditional US foreign policy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

However, others point out that even the optics of Trump hosting Munir are significant.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrump\u2019s lunch invite to Pakistan\u2019s army chief isn\u2019t just protocol-breaking, it\u2019s protocol-redefining,\u201d said Raza Ahmad Rumi, a distinguished lecturer at the City University of New York (CUNY). \u201cIt signals, quite visibly, that Pakistan is not just on Washington\u2019s radar, it\u2019s in the inner circle, at least for now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reset amid regional crises<\/h2>\n

The meeting between Trump and Munir came amid heightened tensions<\/a> in the Middle East, where Israel has been conducting strikes inside Iranian cities since June 13. Iran has retaliated with missile attacks of its own on Israel.<\/p>\n

The Israeli offensive \u2013 targeting Iranian generals, missile bases, nuclear facilities and scientists \u2013 has killed more than 200 people. Iran\u2019s missile and drone attacks on Israel over the past six days have killed about 20 people.<\/p>\n

The Benjamin Netanyahu-led<\/a> Israeli government has been urging the US to join the offensive against Iran, which shares a 900-kilometre-long (559-mile) border with Pakistan.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the media in the Oval Office after the lunch with Munir on Wednesday, Trump noted that the Pakistanis \u201cknow Iran very well, better than most,\u201d but added that they are \u201cnot happy\u201d.<\/p>\n

According to Trump, however, the main reason for meeting Munir was to thank him for his role in defusing the May conflict between Pakistan and India, a confrontation that brought the region, home to more than 1.6 billion people, to the brink of nuclear war.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason I had him here was that I wanted to thank him for not going into the war [with India]. And I want to thank PM [Narendra] Modi as well, who just left a few days ago. We\u2019re working on a trade deal with India and Pakistan,\u201d said Trump, who is known to enjoy a warm relationship with Indian leader Modi.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two very smart people decided not to keep going with a war that could have been a nuclear war. Pakistan and India are two big nuclear powers. I was honoured to meet him today,\u201d he added, referring to Munir.<\/p>\n

The crisis had begun after an April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 Indian civilians. India blamed Pakistan<\/a>, which denied the charge and called for a \u201ccredible, independent, transparent\u201d investigation.<\/p>\n

On May 7, India launched strikes inside Pakistani and Pakistan-administered Kashmir territories. Pakistan responded via its air force, claiming to have downed at least six Indian jets. India confirmed losses<\/a> but did not specify numbers.<\/p>\n

The conflict escalated as both sides exchanged drones for three days and eventually launched missiles at military targets on May 10. It ended only after intense backchannel diplomacy, particularly involving the US, led to a ceasefire.<\/p>\n

Trump reiterated his role on Wednesday. \u201cI stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man [Munir] was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side, Modi from the India side, and others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While Pakistan has acknowledged the US role, India insists the ceasefire resulted solely from bilateral dialogue. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated on Tuesday that Indian PM Modi<\/a> had spoken to Trump by phone to underscore New Delhi\u2019s view that there was no US-led mediation between India and Pakistan.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.
Hours before meeting Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, US President Donald Trump spoke to Indian PM Narendra Modi by phone [Nathan Howard\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Arif Ansar, chief strategist at Washington-based advisory firm PoliTact, said Pakistan\u2019s military performance during the confrontation prompted Trump\u2019s engagement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt demonstrated that despite its political and economic challenges, the country can outmanoeuvre a much bigger adversary,\u201d Ansar told Al Jazeera. \u201cThis has led President Trump to engage with Pakistan\u2019s traditional power centres based on core strategic interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOpportunity to reassert relevance\u201d<\/h2>\n

That engagement has a long history.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s relationship with the US dates back to its 1947 independence, after which it aligned with Washington during the Cold War. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan supported US objectives there, and the two collaborated closely to support the mujahideen that eventually forced Moscow to pull out its troops.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, Pakistan also backed the post-9\/11 US \u201cwar on terror\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, over the years, many within the US strategic community also started questioning Pakistan\u2019s credibility as a reliable security partner, especially after 9\/11 architect Osama bin Laden was found in Abbottabad, close to Rawalpindi, home to Pakistan\u2019s military headquarters in 2011.<\/p>\n

Since the Taliban\u2019s return to power in August 2021, the strategic partnership has waned further. Pakistan has increasingly turned towards China for economic, military and technological support.<\/p>\n

But Weinbaum said that since Trump returned to office, Pakistan has been getting respect that was lacking under the previous Biden administration.<\/p>\n

Trump wanted \u201ccounterterrorism assistance,\u201d Weinbaum said \u2013 and seemingly got it.<\/p>\n

On June 10, General Michael E Kurilla, chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), detailed how that cooperation led to the capture of the suspected Abbey Gate bomber.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey [Pakistan] are in an active counterterrorism fight right now, and they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world,\u201d Kurilla said<\/a>, in a testimony before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n

According to Kurilla, who also oversees the US military\u2019s Middle East operations including Iran, this progress, including the arrest of the Abbey Gate bombing suspect, was made possible due to direct coordination with Pakistan\u2019s army chief. \u201cField Marshal Asim Munir called me to tell me they had captured one of the Daesh-K [ISKP or ISIS-K] individuals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As the icing on the cake for the bilateral relationship, Weinbaum suggested, Pakistan has thrown in \u201cmore goodies, such as a trade deal with no tariffs, offering rare earth minerals, and crypto<\/a>\u201c. Weinbaum previously served as an analyst for Pakistan and Afghanistan in the US State Department\u2019s Bureau of Intelligence and Research.<\/p>\n

Rare earth minerals, critical for industries like defence, robotics and electronics, are among Pakistan\u2019s assets now being offered to foreign investors, including the US and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

Pakistan has also recently formed a crypto council<\/a> and held talks with US officials to attract investment and partnerships.<\/p>\n

Rumi called the Munir-Trump meeting \u201chistoric\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe US wants Pakistan\u2019s help in de-risking regional volatility without offering much in return. For Munir, it\u2019s an opportunity to reassert relevance and perhaps negotiate manoeuvring space at home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Transactional ties and democratic costs<\/h2>\n

Historically, Pakistan\u2019s ties<\/a> with the US have been largely transactional<\/a>, particularly in the security sphere. US aid and investment often followed Pakistan\u2019s alignment with US strategic goals, helping build its infrastructure and military.<\/p>\n

But the relationship has also been marked by distrust, with US administrations accusing Pakistan of double-dealing, while Pakistan claims the US has failed to respect the sacrifices it has made while siding with them.<\/p>\n

Whether this latest engagement proves to be another fleeting phase or a more durable alignment remains to be seen, say experts.<\/p>\n

Rumi, the New York-based academic, said the US has traditionally engaged Pakistan<\/a> when it needed to, and retreated when it could.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless this relationship is institutionalised, beyond the security lens with which it is viewed, it\u2019s another tactical romance. And like past dalliances, it could fade once strategic goals are met or regimes change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ansar added that Pakistan again stands on the brink of a major strategic choice amid the global power shift.<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch depends on whether it leans toward China or the US<\/a>. That decision is also tied to the evolving Israel-Palestine conflict and the role of Iran,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

But Weinbaum, the former State Department official, described the reset in ties as temporary, as \u201cnothing is permanent in this administration\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Pakistan does play some role<\/a> in the Iran crisis, they have could have more substantial meaning to these ties. But it needs to be prepared that there is nothing settled with this administration. It can change on a dime, at any hour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Power behind the scenes<\/h2>\n

The military remains Pakistan\u2019s most powerful institution<\/a>, exerting enormous influence over politics and society.<\/p>\n

It has ruled directly for more than three decades, and the current government, elected in a controversial vote last year, is widely seen as secondary to the military leadership under Munir.<\/p>\n

\"U.S.
Pakistan\u2019s military leader General Pervez Musharraf maintained close ties with the United States under the Bush administration during the US invasion of Afghanistan after the 9\/11 attacks in the US [File photo: Jim Young\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is consistent with historical precedent. Pakistan\u2019s first military ruler, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, had close ties with the US in the 1960s. Subsequent military rulers, including General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s and General Pervez Musharraf in the 2000s, also maintained strong US relations. All three were hosted by US presidents at the White House \u2013 but only after they became heads of state.<\/p>\n

Munir, now only the second Pakistani<\/a> to hold the rank of field marshal after Khan, reinforces the perception that Pakistan\u2019s real power remains with the military, despite the presence of a civilian government, say experts.<\/p>\n

Still, CUNY\u2019s Rumi said it was important not to \u201cconfuse symbolism with transformation\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis [Trump-Munir] meeting validates the enduring military-to-military track in US-Pakistan [ties], but it also bypasses the civilian setup, which should worry anyone rooting for democratic consolidation. If this is the \u201creset,\u201d it\u2019s one where khaki once again trumps ballot,\u201d he cautioned, referring to the colour of the military\u2019s uniform.<\/p>\n

Ansar from PoliTact concurred, saying that the meeting reflects adversely on the civil-military balance in Pakistan, as it showed who remains the \u201creal power bearer\u201d in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the long run, these dealings in the past have led to tremendous political, economic and security-related repercussions for the nation [Pakistan],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut additionally, it has promoted a norm that critical decisions impacting the nation must be made in private without discussion, consensus or public ownership. This results in increased societal and political disillusionment regarding the future of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Islamabad, Pakistan \u2013 In his first address to a joint session of Congress on March 4 this year, after becoming United States president for a second time, Donald Trump made a striking revelation. He referred to the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021 \u2013 which occurred as thousands of Afghans tried … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}