Fri Feb 07 08:20:49 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Return Threatens US-Pakistan Relations: Analyst Warns of Declining Strategic Importance

**Washington, D.C.** – The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency casts a shadow over already strained US-Pakistan relations, according to a new analysis by Parth Seth, a Research Fellow at the India Foundation. Seth argues that Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy and his focus on domestic issues will significantly diminish Pakistan’s strategic importance to the United States.

The historically complex relationship between the two nations, marked by periods of close cooperation and deep mistrust, has already seen a decline in engagement under the Biden administration. While the US and Pakistan continue limited cooperation on defense and intelligence sharing, the Biden administration’s focus shifted towards human security initiatives. This shift, coupled with Trump’s expected focus on countering China and strengthening ties with Gulf states and the Indo-Pacific, further marginalizes Pakistan in the US’s foreign policy calculations.

Seth highlights the introduction of a legislative proposal by Representative Andy Biggs to revoke Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally as a symbolic indication of this waning influence. Biggs, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, reflects a growing sentiment within the Republican party that aligns with Trump’s isolationist tendencies.

The ongoing political instability and economic crisis in Pakistan, exacerbated by the imprisonment of Imran Khan, further complicates the situation. The rise of secessionist and sectarian groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) adds to the instability and decreases the likelihood of increased US engagement.

Seth contends that Trump’s personalistic foreign policy will prioritize personal relationships and biases over established diplomatic norms. This could lead to a further deterioration of US-Pakistan relations, particularly given Trump’s past criticisms of Pakistan. The author suggests a potential increase in Pakistan’s reliance on China, which could further escalate tensions with the US.

While the US continues limited intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan, Seth’s analysis suggests that these efforts will likely be deprioritized under a Trump administration. The lack of significant economic or humanitarian aid, coupled with the absence of a major South Asian conflict of interest to the US, creates a bleak outlook for the future of the bilateral relationship. The author concludes that unless the situation in Pakistan poses a direct threat to American interests, the relationship will remain strained and Pakistan’s strategic importance will continue its downward trajectory.

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