In what could mark a significant geopolitical pivot, former US President Donald Trump is reportedly working to reset ties with Pakistan, offering military and economic incentives in exchange for strategic access to the country’s military infrastructure, according to a CNN-News18 report.
During a working lunch held on Wednesday with Pakistan’s powerful Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Trump described Munir as a “smart man” and said he was “honoured” to meet him—remarks that suggest a warming of relations after years of diplomatic chill under the previous Biden administration.
A Strategic Trade-Off
According to sources cited by CNN-News18, Trump is offering Pakistan a high-stakes deal: access to fifth-generation fighter jets, advanced missile systems, and financial assistance, on the condition that Islamabad allows the United States access to its military bases and seaports.
This arrangement is reportedly part of Trump’s broader effort to reassert US influence in South and West Asia.
Crucially, the proposal comes with a caveat: Pakistan must scale back its military and strategic engagements with China and Russia, both of whom have grown increasingly close to Islamabad in recent years.
Pakistan, which continues to use US-manufactured military assets like F-16s, has also been sourcing modern weaponry and aircraft from China—an alliance that Washington now views with growing unease.
Rekindling an Old Alliance
The US-Pakistan relationship, once central to Cold War strategy and post-9/11 military efforts in Afghanistan, had sharply declined under President Joe Biden.
Notably, Biden never held a direct conversation with his Pakistani counterpart during his four-year term, contributing to strained ties.
Trump’s renewed outreach to Islamabad comes as his relationship with New Delhi faces fresh strain.
Trump has made controversial comments about the India-Pakistan ceasefire, falsely claiming credit for brokering it, and has repeatedly pushed to mediate on the Kashmir issue—an area India considers strictly bilateral and off-limits to foreign involvement.
Additionally, Trump has reportedly introduced tougher conditions in US-India trade talks, which many in New Delhi see as violating the cooperative tone with which discussions were initiated.
Regional Ambitions and the Iran Factor
Analysts say Trump’s strategy is shaped by looming military developments in the Middle East. According to CNN-News18, a senior diplomatic source revealed that Trump is looking to align Pakistan with the US and Israel in the event of a larger military conflict with Iran.
Pakistan’s geographic location and military infrastructure, particularly its airbases and sea access, would be critical assets in such a scenario.
To secure Pakistan’s cooperation, Trump is reportedly offering comprehensive security and trade agreements, seeking to ensure that Islamabad aligns its regional policies with Washington’s strategic vision.
If these efforts materialise, it would not only reshape US-Pakistan relations but also potentially redraw the strategic map of South Asia, pitting old alliances against new rivalries in a bid to reassert American influence amid growing Chinese and Russian footprints in the region.