Since the 1950s, Pakistan and the USA have had a fluctuating relationship characterized by cooperation and mistrust. The US viewed Pakistan as a strategic partner, especially during the Cold War and post-9/11, and Pakistan received billions of dollars in economic development and military assistance. The US imposed sanctions in 1990 over Pakistan’s nuclear program and a military coup, reinstating aid after 9/11 as Pakistan serves as a frontline ally of the US against terrorism, which further deepens the military ties. But Americans were frustrated due to Pakistan’s selective targeting of militant groups in the war on terror. The Barack Obama administration recalibrated that partnership, and Pakistan received billions of dollars in civilian development and military assistance through the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act (2009), but declined after the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, leading to accusations of Pakistan’s ‘double standard. Relations soured as Drone strikes intensified in the tribal areas of Pakistan, which caused domestic backlash and anti-American sentiment.
In this environment, Donald J. Trump assumed the presidency in January 2017, introducing an unconventional approach to foreign policy marked by his “America First” agenda. He expressed limited interest in foreign interventions, withdrew from various global agreements, and implemented strict immigration policies. His “stick and carrot” strategy involved offering incentives for cooperation while employing threats to discourage non-compliance. Besides this, President Trump, in his second term in 2025, is in a relatively early phase of transforming the rules of international relations in ways that are surprising for an isolationist president whose main concern is his ultra-nationalist voter base. He has used the threat of tariffs and the weaponization of trade to come down hard on everyone he believes is taking advantage of the US.
Rupture and Realignment of US-Pakistan Relations
Upon assuming office, President Trump’s primary initiative was to withdraw United States forces from Afghanistan. The relationship between the Trump administration and Pakistan deteriorated during the initial two years due to allegations that Pakistan provided refuge to militants, particularly Al-Qaeda. The Trump administration adopted a stringent and overtly confrontational stance towards Pakistan, which included reductions in foreign aid and support for measures to keep Pakistan on the “Grey list” for terrorism financing.
Nonetheless, President Trump acknowledged that a withdrawal from Afghanistan could not be achieved through military victory alone. Consequently, he required Pakistan’s assistance, while Pakistan perceived this as an opportunity to improve its relations with both the United States and the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has positioned itself as a conduit between the United States and the Afghan Taliban peace process, leading to a new phase of reconciliation in the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the United States. (Evaluating the Trump Administration’s Pakistan Reset | Brookings, n.d.)
The punitive Dimensions of trump policies
The previous administration approached its relationship with Pakistan through conditionality, but the Trump administration decisively shifted to a stronger stance. It suspended all security assistance to Pakistan until the country took substantive action against militants recognized as security threats to the USA. This suspension is not permanent and specifically excludes civilian assistance, as clearly stated by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
In January 2018, Trump boldly asserted in a tweet, “The US has foolishly given 33 billion in aid over the last 15 years to Pakistan and they have given us nothing but ‘lies & deceit, thinking of us leaders as fools. They have given the terrorist a haven, which we hunt in Afghanistan with little help, no more!” (Bloch, 2018).
According to the Congressional Research Service, from 2002 onward, total aid assistance to Pakistan has amounted to $34 billion, with over $1 billion allocated in 2016 alone. This clearly underscores the significant financial support provided to Pakistan over the years.
Diplomatic and Economic Hardline Measures toward Pakistan
During the mid-2016s, U.S. policy toward Pakistan was increasingly shaped by congressional pressure. In the National Defense Authorization Act on Afghanistan, Senator John McCain introduced an amendment that sought to combine military pressure with political incentives — a strategy designed to impose costs on Pakistan while keeping the door open for cooperation. Around the same time, Senators Dana Rohrabacher and Ted Poe advanced Amendment 609, which, along with other proposals, placed Pakistan directly in the spotlight. These measures tied American defense funding to Islamabad’s progress in counterterrorism, particularly against the Haqqani Network. Failure to show “satisfactory progress” meant the risk of losing crucial financial support. The push went even further, with some lawmakers calling for Pakistan to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism or stripped of its major non-NATO ally status. The financial impact soon became clear: in 2016, Pakistan was slated to receive $900........

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