(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
(Mian Iftikhar Ahmad)
Relations between Pakistan and the United States represent one of the most complex and evolving chapters in contemporary international politics, marked by cycles of engagement and estrangement, cooperation and confrontation, trust and suspicion. From the very beginning, this relationship was shaped less by ideological harmony and more by strategic compulsions. In the early years after Pakistan’s independence, the Cold War environment pushed Islamabad towards the Western bloc, while Washington viewed Pakistan as a strategically located ally in South Asia capable of counterbalancing Soviet influence.
Pakistan’s participation in defense alliances such as SEATO and CENTO reflected its desire for security guarantees and economic assistance, while the United States primarily saw Pakistan through the prism of containment strategy. This asymmetry of expectations laid the foundation for future misunderstandings. Over time, it became evident that while Pakistan perceived the United States as a long-term strategic partner, Washington regarded Pakistan largely as a situational ally whose importance fluctuated with changing global priorities. The wars of 1965 and 1971 between Pakistan and India deeply affected public perceptions in Pakistan, as American neutrality or reluctance to support Pakistan during critical moments reinforced a sense of abandonment. The dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 further deepened mistrust, leaving a lasting scar on bilateral relations.
The subsequent pursuit of Pakistan’s nuclear program triggered another phase of tension, culminating in sanctions and legislative measures such as the Pressler Amendment, which symbolized the fragility of American commitments from the Pakistani perspective. The issue of paid-for but undelivered F-16 aircraft remains a powerful symbol of broken promises in the collective memory of Pakistan. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan once again brought the two countries together, as shared strategic objectives temporarily overshadowed mutual suspicions. Pakistan became a frontline state in the Afghan jihad, hosting millions of refugees and playing a decisive role in supporting resistance forces, while the United States provided financial and military assistance to counter Soviet expansion.
However, with the withdrawal of Soviet troops, Washington’s rapid disengagement left Pakistan grappling with the long-term consequences of militancy, weapons proliferation, and regional instability, reinforcing the perception that Pakistan was used and then discarded once its utility had diminished. The events of September 11, 2001, marked yet another turning point, as Pakistan was once again thrust into the role of a frontline ally in the global war on terror. Islamabad aligned itself with Washington, incurring enormous human, economic, and social costs in the process, while facing persistent accusations of duplicity and repeated demands to “do more.” Drone strikes, unilateral actions, and incidents such as the Abbottabad operation severely strained bilateral ties, raising serious questions about sovereignty and mutual trust.
For many in Pakistan, this period represented the height of confrontation, marked by a coexistence of cooperation alongside deep-seated resentment and suspicion. Yet, international relations are rarely static, and shifting global dynamics have gradually prompted both countries to reassess their approach. The United States today is no longer solely focused on counterterrorism in South Asia; instead, its strategic outlook is increasingly shaped by great power competition, particularly with China, the rebalancing of influence in the Asia-Pacific region, and the need for economic connectivity across Central and South Asia. Within this evolving framework, Pakistan’s geostrategic location, demographic potential, and economic significance have once again come into focus.
Simultaneously, Pakistan has also undergone a gradual shift in its own foreign policy thinking, recognizing that an exclusive security-centric relationship with Washington is neither sustainable nor beneficial. There is a growing realization in Islamabad that future engagement with the United States must be grounded in economic cooperation, trade, investment, technology transfer, and people-to-people contacts rather than dependence on aid or military alignment. This recalibration has opened new avenues for engagement, particularly in areas such as information technology, digital services, education, and climate cooperation.
Pakistan’s expanding IT sector, freelance workforce, and startup ecosystem are increasingly connected to the American market, generating foreign exchange and projecting a more modern and entrepreneurial image of the country. Educational exchange programs, most notably the Fulbright scholarships, stand out as one of the most enduring and positive pillars of bilateral relations, fostering human capital development and long-term intellectual ties. Thousands of Pakistani students and professionals trained in the United States contribute not only to Pakistan’s development but also to a deeper mutual understanding between the two societies. The Pakistani-American community plays a crucial bridging role in this context, acting as an informal yet influential channel of diplomacy.
With significant representation in medicine, engineering, academia, business, and technology, the diaspora has the capacity to counter negative stereotypes, promote investment, and advocate for balanced policies in Washington. Another emerging area of convergence lies in addressing climate change, a challenge that poses an existential threat to Pakistan and has become a priority in global policymaking. Pakistan’s vulnerability to floods, heatwaves, and glacial melting underscores the need for international cooperation, and the United States, with its technological expertise and financial resources, can play a constructive role through climate finance, renewable energy initiatives, and disaster resilience programs.
While defense and security cooperation remains sensitive, it is increasingly framed in pragmatic and limited terms, focusing on counterterrorism coordination, military-to-military engagement, and regional stability rather than expansive strategic alignment. For this evolving partnership to succeed, both countries must abandon unrealistic expectations and acknowledge each other’s constraints and priorities. Pakistan seeks recognition as a sovereign state pursuing a diversified foreign policy that includes relations with China, Russia, and regional partners, while the United States must move beyond a zero-sum mindset that views Pakistan’s external engagements as inherently adversarial. A mature relationship requires mutual respect, transparency, and clearly defined objectives, replacing coercion with dialogue and conditionality with cooperation.
If Washington prioritizes trade over aid, investment over assistance, and institutional engagement over episodic crisis management, and if Islamabad approaches the relationship with strategic clarity rather than emotional reaction, Pakistan–United States relations can gradually move from a history dominated by confrontation toward a more balanced and sustainable partnership. Such a transformation would not only serve the national interests of both countries but also contribute to regional stability and global cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.
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