While President Donald Trump has publicly attacked, embarrassed and humiliated certain world leaders, he heaped praise on Pakistan, Field marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmad Shah and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Some believe it is strategic; some see it as strategic deception, others see it as geopolitical, still others see it as personal. The reality may well be in a combination of all four.
The question is, what interest does Trump have in buttering up Pakistani political and military leadership and for what purpose?
President Donald Trump is a transactional, pragmatic realist, sees power as the focal point of international relations. He admires, wealth and power and apparently respects strongmen.
To show respect and admiration of Asim Munir, Trump had invited the Army Chief to a number of ceremonial and diplomatic events, even hosting him at a White House private lunch but without the presence of civilian or political Pakistani representation. A rare act and in complete disregard of diplomatic protocols.
In showing appreciation, Trump has also favoured Pakistan in military contracts and provided Islamabad with access to US military hardware. He even facilitated US political cooperation in designating separatist Balouch groups as terrorist organisations aligning with Pakistan security priorities.
For Washington, Pakistan, a nuclear power, plays a strategic role vis-à-vis its neighbors — India, China, Iran, Afghanistan and of course Israel, the Arab / Islamic and subcontinent world. US influence in Pakistan provides a counterbalance to influence in Pakistan by China, Russia, and Iran in the Arab and Islamic world and the subcontinent region.
Pakistan’s military domestically strong and regionally powerful has significant intelligence & counterterrorism networks. Pakistan is therefore seen as a critical asset to US agenda in the region.
In his article titled ‘Asim Munir, Trump, And The Great Betrayal During Israel-Iran Conflict’, in the news magazine of the Islamic Movement, Crescent International, S Haidar Mehdi poses the question: “Why was Pakistan’s military chief in Washington during a global flashpoint involving Iran and Israel? The answer; Mehdi argues, lies in “the cold logic of strategic deception.”
According to Mehdi, the objective was twofold:
1. Assess Pakistan’s strategic position vis-à-vis Iran and
2. Secure a non-engagement guarantee from Pakistan’s military leadership.
Mehdi concludes that this was “part of a three -pronged deception campaign carefully choreographed by Trump to lull Iran into strategic miscalculation.”
Trumps deceptive conduct was of course designed to give Netanyahu and the Israeli military, facilitated by certain Arab states, the surprise attack, to kill Iranian leadership, cause a regime change, and destroy Iran and its nuclear capabilities and what remains of the ‘arc of resistance’ in the Middle East.
This strategy has failed and the consequence of this failure is a stronger and far more united Iran.
For implementation of US agenda in the region a strong regional power like Pakistan was therefore required, and so it was necessary for the US to reposition Pakistan, whitewash its history as the alleged sponsor of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations and transform it to a US partner in the delivery of Washington’s peace agenda in the region.
Trump’s recent threat that “bad things” will happen to the Taliban government if they don’t give back Bagram airbase is a case in point.
“We’re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don’t do it, if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m gonna do,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding: “We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”
Will Trump engage Pakistan in regaining Bagram air base and pit the Pakistani army against the Taliban? Is a regime change in Afghanistan on the cards? If this was to be then a puppet Government in Kabul could handover Bagram Base to the US to keep an eye on China, Russia and Iran.
Pakistan has now carried out airstrikes in a number of cities including Kabul. The Pakistani authorities are already calling the Taliban government unrepresentative. Taking on Kabul is a dangerous policy which could potentially backfire on Islamabad.
A golden chance for India to arm the Afghans with the missiles and weaponry needed to strike back and opportunity for Trump – the man of peace, to avert yet another war. See Hindustan Times, 26 Oct 2025 titled: Asim Munir, Shehbaz Sharif ‘great people’: Trump vows to end Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict.
As a powerful military partner, Pakistan may well prove to be a useful subcontractor for US military agendas in the Middle East and South Asia. The US wants a new seaport at Pasni,142 kms east of Gawadar (Balochistan) on which China bases its Belt and Road Initiative.
If it proceeds, the port in Pasni will choke Chinese and Iranian shipping originating from Chahbahar port of Iran. Such a move, seen by some as suicidal for Pakistani interests.
A respected regional power by the Arab and Islamic world, Pakisan could serve Arab and US interests in various offensive and deterrence roles. Pakistan’s Saudi defence Pact is another case in point.
This defence Pact would not have happened without Trump’s tick of approval. At minimum, it provides the Arabian Gulf states with regional security and give Trump an opportunity to deter Netanyahu and his military forays sabotaging US interests in the region.
Trump was reportedly frustrated with Netanyahu’s rogue behaviour, ‘issuing a sharp rebuke’ for Israel’s attack on Doha Qatar.
Had Netanyahu succeeded in killing the Palestinian negotiators, it would have meant the death knell of the GCC’s / Trump plan for peace in Gaza, potentially killed the delivery of billions of dollars of promised Arab Gulf investments in US military hardware and possibly jeopardized trump’s chances of winning the coveted Nobel Peace Prize he desperately wanted.
Apart from the bitcoin contract Trump wants from Pakistan’s Crypto Council for his son in law Jared Kushner, Trump also wanted access to Pakistan’s oil reserves and other natural resources including the rare earth material.
Pakistan’s rare earth deposits though small, represent a timely boost for Washingtons ‘urgent effort to secure ‘critical materials beyond China’s reach as competition over global supply chain intensifies.’
This of course gave impetus to the MOU titled “United States -Australia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths” agreement signed by President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese in Washington DC on 20 October 2025.
At Sharm Alsheikh world leaders gathering for Peace in Gaza, Trump again heaped praise on Pakistan’s Military Chief and even gave the floor to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif who in turn heaped praise on Trump for ‘stopping seven wars – now eight, saving the lives of millions of people’ while reaffirming that Trump is deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Though Pakistan military and political leadership may play to Trump’s tunes and stroke his ego, for the Army its always Pakistan first.
They see beyond Trumps honey trap, outfoxing him and his administration to advance their international, domestic and personal standing but also an opportunity to boost Pakistan’s access to desperately needed international financial aid, trade and investment.
It’s good to see an informed opinion piece on the meddling by Trump with Pakistan – the how and the why! And meddling Trump certainly is – and no one knows what actually goes on in closed meeting tête-à-têtes held by Trump – threats or blackmail or strait-out bribery. This is the old Great Game as played by the British up through Afghanistan against Russia in the 19th-century – now over rare earths – Anthony Albanese – in unseemly fashion – bending over for Trump as much as the Pakistani leadership is, too. It will not end well for democracy.
Trump cannot be trusted. He played Modi in his last stint at President with his How’dy Modi Hollywood show. Trumps allegiances does not need an excuse to be dropped summarily.
Whether the present administration in Pakistan can out-fox Trump is a hang in the air. Pakistan has already attacked Kabul for someone else.
Imran Khan is a proven very wise leader. I
could be wrong, but I don’t see any matching him in leadership for Pakistan right now.
Henry Kissinger once remarked, “While it may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, being America’s friend can be fatal.” Until India stops behaving like an overbearing big brother, Pakistan will unfortunately have to engage with the United States, Russia, and China. However, when the music stops, China will likely be the one embracing Pakistan. So, keep dancing, but don’t lose sight of the leading partner—China.