Pakistan-US Ties: A Transactional Relationship Reliant on Geopolitical Crises

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, Pakistan-US relations have increasingly become transactional, driven by geopolitical exigencies. Following 9/11, Pakistan became a vital partner for the US in the war in Afghanistan, providing logistical support and intelligence in exchange for financial and military aid. However, the relationship has often been strained, with both sides accusing each other of failing to deliver on promises. While the urgency diminished after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, cooperation in areas like counterterrorism, trade, and health has continued. Currently, Pakistan is again seeking to demonstrate its utility to Washington, notably through mediation efforts between the US and Iran. This contrasts sharply with the India-US relationship, which has cultivated robust, bottom-up ties across technology, defense, academia, and the diaspora, fostering a more stable partnership. Pakistan-US relations suffer from a lack of independent commercial, academic, and professional connections. This is compounded by Pakistan's close strategic alignment with China, domestic security issues deterring investment and tourism, and its comparatively smaller economic and technological scale than India. While American companies operate profitably in Pakistan and the US remains a significant export market, these economic ties alone are insufficient to dictate the overall trajectory of the relationship. Consequently, Pakistan-US ties remain heavily influenced by political leaders, military officials, and regional dynamics, perpetuating a transactional cycle.