THE Pakistan-US relationship is an enig­­ma. Just when you think you’ve solved the puzzle, there’s an unexpected twist, like the present uptick in relations, the suddenness of which is as intriguing as its future is hazy.

What is familiar, and new, about the resurgence in ties? There are echoes here of the previous high-profile engagements, ie, they are being conducted at the highest levels with high-sounding rhetoric amid an air of great expectations. The White House and Pakistan’s military leadership are the guiding spirit, as they were in the past three peak engagements — the early Cold War period and the two Afghan wars.

The issues and context of relations, however, are both old and new. The arrest by Pakistan early this year of the mastermind of the Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport in 2021 demonstrated Islamabad’s continued high value as a counterterrorism partner against transnational terrorist groups like IS-K, which threaten the US and global security. The bombing killed 182 people including 13 US soldiers. The security issue is important in domestic politics, and to President Donald Trump’s image as a strong leader.

The prospects of enhanced economic ties, especially in oil exploration, mines and minerals, IT and........

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