Pakistan needn’t worry about progress in India-U.S. ties

If India and the United States sign a formal trade agreement in March, it would signify a "reset" in their bilateral relations. Could this improvement in India-U.S. ties impact Pakistan-U.S. relations? On social media, many Pakistanis have expressed concerns.

A parade goes on in Pakistan street.

Such concerns are understandable for Pakistan. Given the power disparity between India and Pakistan, Pakistan has long been anxious about the imbalance in their capabilities. However, regarding this round of adjustments in India-U.S. relations, Pakistan actually does not need to worry about the United States recalibrating its policy toward India.

For the United States, Pakistan naturally holds strategic value and advantages. Pakistan’s greatest advantage lies in its relevance to the entire U.S. alliance system in the Middle East and its role as a leader in the Islamic world. The United States' relations with Middle Eastern and Islamic countries require Pakistan's support and assistance.

Moreover, Pakistan possesses top-tier diplomatic capabilities. Pakistani policy elites have prioritized forging an alliance with the United States as their foremost strategic objective. Through long-term diplomatic engagement, Pakistan has demonstrated an exceptional ability to identify and adeptly cater to U.S. strategic interests.

For politicians like Donald Trump, Pakistan can provide perfect emotional value to him and his administration—something that India, which sees itself as a "global power," is clearly unable to offer. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump on multiple occasions for "facilitating a ceasefire" during the India-Pakistan conflict last May and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir visited the United States three times within six months. Pakistan has also responded to Trump's “Board of Peace” with zest, welcomed U.S. investment in developing Pakistan's oil, and sent samples of critical minerals to the United States. All of these are things that India would find difficult to provide.

Source: Mekong News Network, YICC