Foreign policy expert Mamedov: How Trump shifted US stance towards Pakistan

Washington: Well-known foreign policy expert Eldar Mamedov has written an analysis highlighting how Pakistan improved its standing in the United States during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Pakistan Gains Trump’s Support

According to Mamedov, President Trump praised Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts during his address to Congress, a gesture that marked a shift in tone from previous administrations. He notes that new allies of Pakistan also emerged in Washington during this period.

India–Pakistan Tensions and Trump’s Mediation

The article recalls the escalation after the May Kashmir attacks, when India carried out strikes against Pakistan. In response, Pakistan shot down Indian fighter jets, sparking a four-day conflict. Mamedov writes that Trump’s intervention helped defuse tensions, as Pakistan avoided further escalation. Pakistan even appreciated Trump’s mediation so much that he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

India, however, denied Trump’s role in the de-escalation, but according to the expert, Pakistan had already gained a diplomatic edge.

Asim Munir’s Influence in Washington

Mamedov points out that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not secure a Washington visit during this period, while Trump extended an invitation to Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House. Trump was reportedly impressed by Munir’s steady and balanced approach, leading to what Mamedov described as a political “bromance” between the two leaders.

Shifts in US Policy

The United States later signed major economic agreements with Pakistan, while Trump imposed additional tariffs on India. This, according to the expert, pushed New Delhi closer to Beijing and Moscow. Modi was even compelled to visit Beijing for the first time in seven years.

The Big Question

Despite these developments, Mamedov concludes with a question: Has Washington truly changed its long-term policy towards Pakistan, or were these simply temporary signals under Trump’s presidency?

The article was published in the National Interest.