A country long viewed through a narrow security lens and often treated as a reluctant or problematic partner is now being reimagined as a central pillar of United States policy in South Asia. A decisive trigger for this policy shift was the brief but intense Pakistan India military confrontation in May. In this context, the assumption that India alone could anchor United States interests in South Asia began to look increasingly flawed. The article further explains that the initial thaw in Pakistan United States relations did not begin publicly but through discreet counterterrorism exchanges. By early 2026, the article suggests, Pakistan is likely to be positioned close to the centre of Trump’s broader grand strategy.

Source: The Patriot December 22, 2025 19:31 UTC