Pakistan and the United States Warm Relations Amid Shifting Global Power Dynamics

Relations between Pakistan and the United States have improved markedly since early 2025 after years of mutual frustration. In March, President Trump publicly thanked Pakistan for apprehending the mastermind of a Kabul bombing, and later that year the US Central Command chief described Pakistan as a "phenomenal partner" in counterterrorism. The United States also facilitated a ceasefire on May 10 during an India-Pakistan confrontation, a diplomatic effort praised by Islamabad but largely ignored by New Delhi, which had initially asked Washington for assistance.

Pakistan’s involvement in mediating the recent US-Iran war further convinced Washington of its value as a stabilising force in South Asia. While the partnership remains transactional, analysts highlight opportunities for expanded trade, technology exports, and investment in Pakistan’s shale oil and mineral sectors, provided regulatory and security challenges are addressed. The evolving dynamic also forces Pakistan to balance its long-standing ties with China and manage regional relationships with India, Iran and Saudi Arabia.