WASHINGTON: The American newspaper The Washington Times reports a remarkable shift in the United States’ approach toward Pakistan. While the era of prioritizing India appears to be fading, Pakistan has transitioned from being viewed as an undesirable nation to one of the most favored.
According to the Washington Times report, Pakistan’s military performance astonished President Trump.
The newspaper states that the May conflict revived Pakistan’s strategic relevance on the global map.
Field Marshal Asim Munir’s role and leadership were highly praised. The report notes that Trump commended Pakistan during a national address in March.
The May Pakistan-India war served as the foundation for this U.S. policy shift. In Trump’s South Asia strategy, Pakistan was positioned as a central pillar.
The initial thaw in U.S.-Pakistan relations emerged following counter-terrorism exchanges.
Pakistan began to be regarded once again as a serious regional player.
The report highlights that India’s lukewarm response during the ceasefire displeased Trump, and Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meeting with Trump proved significant.
Islamabad effectively capitalized on Trump’s praise, transforming traditional ties into robust cooperation and taking full credit for it. Munir was described as a “disciplined dark horse” and a “strategic mystery.”
The report emphasized that the discipline and strategic focus of the Pakistani military exceeded American expectations by far. U.S.-Pakistan relations evolved into a strategic partnership.
Pakistan’s military innovations gained new global significance.
A key revelation in the report was that initially, plans leaned toward giving India a prominent role while sidelining Islamabad, but restrictions on personal freedoms in India and inconsistent military performance raised doubts about India’s reliability as a regional stabilizer.
The article included a special analysis of the relationship between President Trump and Syed Asim Munir.
Engagement continued to grow, with ties progressing from transactional to strategic. In this way, Pakistan emerged as a key partner for the United States. Such a rapid change in perception is described as a rare and unique event.
