Explaining Trump’s Surprising Turn to Pakistan

The Trump administration has initiated a surprising pivot towards Pakistan, marked by high-level meetings, favorable trade terms, and renewed security cooperation. This tactical realignment is driven by a transactional desire to access Pakistan's vast critical mineral deposits and create supply chains independent of China. The move also serves to pressure an increasingly aloof India, which has reacted with alarm and is now questioning its partnership with Washington. While Islamabad gains immediate relevance, the new engagement risks further entrenching its powerful military and sparking insurgent attacks on U.S.-backed projects.