For nearly eight decades, the US-Pakistan relationship has been defined by transactional, security-driven alliances, with successive American administrations consistently aligning with Pakistan’s military rulers—from Ayub Khan to Pervez Musharraf, and now Field Marshal Asim Munir.

This “client-master" dynamic has prioritised US strategic interests, from Cold War containment to counter-terrorism, but at the expense of democratic development and public trust within Pakistan. Today, however, a profound shift in Pakistan’s political consciousness—driven by a social media revolution, an energised Pakistani-American diaspora, and the enduring popularity of imprisoned leader Imran Khan—demands a fundamental rethink of US policy.

A Shifting Trust Landscape

Traditionally, Pakistan’s military has been revered as a symbol of national pride and stability. Yet, the years following Imran Khan’s ouster in April 2022 saw the military’s reputation battered by allegations of political manipulation, media censorship, and judicial overreach aimed at sidelining Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Despite these efforts, Khan’s popularity endured, evidenced by his party’s strong showing in the 2024 general elections, where PTI-backed independents won a plurality of seats despite widespread allegations of pre-poll manipulation and interference.

Following the May 2025 border clashes with........

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