Barrister Usman Ali, Ph.D.
After years of diplomatic isolation, Pakistan has found itself back in the global spotlight. Its perceived edge over India in the recent conflict, a defense pact with Saudi Arabia, and progress in ties with Washington signaled renewed momentum. The turning point came on September 25 at the White House, when President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Army Chief together, calling them “great leaders and remarkable personalities.” The 80-minute meeting was hailed as the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan–US relations.
Seen in historical perspective, this was more than a diplomatic courtesy. It symbolized the return of a country that, not long ago, stood on the verge of isolation. The real question now is whether this moment will endure or fade like so many before it.
Pakistan’s global importance has always been tied to its geography. At independence, it aligned with Washington over Moscow. During the Cold War, it signed defense pacts with the US and the West, positioning itself as a front-line state against Soviet influence. The 1980s Afghan war once again made Pakistan indispensable. Washington relied heavily on Pakistani territory to fight the Soviets, giving Islamabad unusual influence. Yet that same period sowed the seeds of militancy and extremism, problems that still linger today.
The end of the Cold War brought decline. In the 1990s, US sanctions over Pakistan’s nuclear program deepened isolation, while political instability and a fragile economy worsened matters. After 9/11, Pakistan returned to the center of US strategy. Billions in aid flowed in, and it was designated a “Major Non-NATO Ally.” Yet trust never fully developed. US officials accused Islamabad of “playing a double game”, fighting some terrorists while protecting others. That perception once again poisoned the partnership.
By 2021, after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan had slipped back into the shadows. Its economy sagged under debt, politics descended into crisis, and global relevance dwindled. Once again, the country stood at the edge of isolation.
Today, circumstances are shifting. The US has refocused its foreign policy on countering China’s rise. Pakistan’s location makes it hard to ignore: bordering China, India, Iran, and Afghanistan, it is the world’s only Muslim nuclear power and a bridge between three major regions. As one American analyst observed: “You can dislike Pakistan, but you cannot ignore it. Its geography and nuclear capability guarantee it a seat at any table.”
For Washington, engagement with Islamabad is a balancing act. India remains a critical partner, but relying solely on New Delhi risks losing leverage in South Asia. Ties with Pakistan provide both flexibility and pressure points. For Islamabad, credibility has become essential. It has accepted IMF conditions, launched reforms, stepped up counterterrorism cooperation, and invited US investment in mining and energy. In a world where supply chains and resources are as strategic as military bases, these offers matter.
In recent months, cooperation has quietly expanded. Intelligence sharing in counterterrorism operations has resumed, alongside efforts to stabilize the Afghan border. Economically, Pakistan has invited US firms to explore its mineral wealth, copper, gold, and rare earths, at a time when Washington seeks to reduce reliance on China. Energy projects have also been opened to US investment to shore up Pakistan’s faltering economy.
All these threads converged on September 25 at the White House. The joint presence of the Prime Minister and Army Chief reflected Pakistan’s unique power structure, while Trump’s public praise underscored Washington’s recognition of Pakistan’s renewed relevance. For Islamabad, the symbolism was striking. Only months earlier, it was scrambling to appease creditors. Now, it stood beside the US President at the center of global headlines.
But history cautions against over-celebration. Pakistan–US ties have long been driven by immediate needs rather than durable trust. Washington has embraced Islamabad when convenient and turned away when not. The test now is whether today’s warmth can break that cycle.
For ordinary Pakistanis, the spectacle matters less than daily struggles: the price of flour, electricity bills, children’s education, and healthcare. A quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, while the rest feel crushed by inflation. Stronger ties with Washington matter only if leaders translate diplomacy into economic relief.
Pakistan today stands at a decisive crossroads. Securing American attention is a notable success, but it could prove temporary. If the opportunity is wasted, if institutions remain weak, policies inconsistent, and the economy stagnant, this too will become another lost chance.
Trump’s warmth may appear a victory, but it is in fact a test. Pakistan has squandered such moments before. If the White House meeting, like past encounters, is reduced to little more than smiling photographs, the opportunity will vanish into the dust of history. But if the leadership uses it as a genuine reset, then September 25 may be remembered as the day Pakistan re-entered the global stage and stepped forward.
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