SINCE the lunch meeting between President Donald Trump and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s and the US’s diplomatic engagements have been optimistic.

This meeting, which was a significant step towards improving relations, set the stage for potential diplomatic breakthroughs. The breakthrough of the positive shift in the engagement is awaited. Indeed, warming ties are better than past diplomatic frictions.

President Trump’s reiteration that he facilitated the ceasefire between India and Pakistan during the escalation of the post-Pahalgam attack military standoff invalidated India’s claim that Pakistan approached it for a truce. It not only exposed the limits of the Indian armed forces but also jolted India’s superiority mindset. Trump has hyphenated Pakistan with India, ‘making it clear that any potential trade deal will also depend on both countries’ willingness to adopt a non-confrontational posture toward each other and honour the ceasefire.’ Besides, President Trump’s offer to mediate the chronic Kashmir dispute between New Delhi and Islamabad, a proposal well received in Pakistan, has significantly altered the dynamics of the situation. Notably, while third-party mediation is acceptable to Islamabad, it is not to India in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

Although there are many areas in which Pakistan and the US cooperate constructively, the evolving international strategic environment is not conducive to reinvigorating their strategic partnership. Currently, instead of Pakistan, India is more attractive to the American strategic pundits. Therefore, they are facilitating India’s military buildup and questioning........

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