Pakistan-US Relations and Donald Trump’s Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia–Implications for National Securities of Pakistan
CFRPSAIL Pakistan-US Relations and Donald Trump’s Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia–Implications for National Securities of Pakistan Research Paper Dr. G. M. Chaudhry International Relations,National Security February 28, 2026 ABSTRACT Pakistan and United States of America is having long history of bilateral relationship since the establishment of Pakistan. Pakistan is the oldest US ally in South Asia and this relationship passed through strategic alliances like SEATO and CENTO to containing expansion of communism. US was successfully able to defeat the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in Afghanistan with active cooperation of Pakistan having common threat to national security of US and Pakistan national interests. After 9/11, Pakistan remained an important non-NATO ally of US in its War on Terrorism (WoT) which is still continuing against warlords and terrorist groups as well as organizations operating in Afghanistan and also spanning in different territories of Pakistan. Pakistan has launched different operations against the terrorists in its Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) which is still continuing in the form of Operation Zarb-e-Azab throughout Pakistan to cleanse Pakistan from terrorists and alleged terrorist organizations. This article aims at to study implications of recently announced President Donald John Trump’s Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia which having serious repercussions on future of Pakistan-US bilateral relations. Trump’s Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia is an attempt to redraw the parameters of Pakistan-US bilateral relations and role of Pakistan. Key words:   United States, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, South Asia, terrorism, War on Terror (WoT), strategic relations, national security.  Introduction The main objective of Pakistan’s foreign policy is the national security of Pakistan emanating from threat perception of Pakistan due to permanent enmity with India being its neighbor. Since the establishment of Pakistan there are continuous conflicts between India and Pakistan due to different reasons amongst such reasons Kashmir and water issues are two major problems which could not be resolved according to wishes and aspiration of Pakistan. Pakistan’s integrity and national security remained the major problem and top priority in its policy-making process due to hostile attitude of India. The concept of Akhund Bharat (unified India) as opened promoted by Indian political leadership always kept the Pakistan’s political leadership and national security establishment to take steps for integration, sovereignty and national security of Pakistan. Pakistan always remained in search of allies and friends who can help Pakistan in its national security perception. In the fifties due to geographical and strategic location of Pakistan in vicinity of USSR, the then strategic policy-makers of US identified Pakistan as one of its ally who can used against communist expansion towards South Asia as well as oil-rich Middle East. Pakistan was in need of economic and military assistance since its establishment due to continuous threats to its national security from India. Pakistan was firstly made the member of Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and thereafter to South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO), both of the treaties wherein the US had played major role. However, the Pakistan felt frustrated when firstly the US failed to fulfillment Pakistan’s expectations during 1965 war with India and finally in 1971 war. Pakistan left both the treaties. During the seventy’s decade the relations with Pakistan remained at their lowest ebb as different defence and economic sanctions were imposed against Pakistan by US governments. However, in 1979 the USSR intervened and invaded Afghanistan dawning a new era in Pakistan-US bilateral relations. US governments and national security establishments actively cooperated and collaborated with Pakistan during Afghanistan war. However, after the withdrawal of USSR from Afghanistan again there was no warmth in Pakistan-US relations even different US administrations imposed defence and economic sanctions against Pakistan. The height of such lack of cooperation reached to the highest level during year 1998 when Pakistan compelled to resort to nuclear detonation as a response to India nuclear testing and explosions. Pakistan was not only isolated but there were worst kind of sanctions against Pakistan slapped by the US administration. The incident of 9/11was a major incident in the recent US history which shocked the entire American nation and US governments were forced to take aggressive steps against terrorists hiding or operating from different parts of the world. Pakistan again became a country without which active assistance no successful operation can be planned against Taliban Government in Afghanistan. The incident of 9/11 made the Pakistan a frontline state in US War on Terrorism or Terror (WoT) as US national security interests could not be successfully protected without assistance and support of Pakistan. War on Terror provided Pakistan opportunity to cooperate with US administration while protecting sovereignty and geographical territory from US onslaught on the pretext of its national security as well as to end isolation internationally faced after nuclear explosions in the year 1998. Pakistan was one of the countries which had already recognized Taliban Government in Afghanistan. However, Pakistan re-evaluated its pro-Taliban policy and decided to cooperate with US administration as per their security requirements by all possible facilities. During War on Terror Pakistan remained the strategic partner of US and Pakistan was only country which allowed the status of non-NATO ally during US military operations in Afghanistan. However, strained and disenchanted relations continued during the government of President Barak Obama with different reservations by Pakistan as well as US administration. President Donald John Trump, during his elections campaign, announced for review of US policy towards Pakistan after coming into power. After taking oath of the office of the President of United States of America, President Donald John Trump ordered for thorough and comprehensive review of US Afghanistan and South Asia policy. On the 21st August, 2017, the President Donald John Trump announced his Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia while addressing armed forces personnel in Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia. Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia has deep rooted repercussions for bilateral and strategic relations between Pakistan and United States. Recently announced United States’ Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia (US-SASA) have different serious implications for national security of Pakistan and