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Economic Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Hyphenating US-Pak: Doing business with gunmen
Howdy, phenomenal pardners! Michael Kurilla (left) & Asif Munir, Florida, 2023 The Trump regime's reported invitation to Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir to attend the 250th US Army Day celebrations in Washington tomorrow has stirred various vectors of speculation. Chief among them: Potential reset in US-Pakistan relations. Pakistan's prospective utility within an emergent Trump doctrine that views bilateral ties primarily through an economic lens. Revival of a counterterrorism partnership between Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Washington. Implications of such a warming of US-Pakistan ties on US-India relations. In New Delhi, this apparent shift in Washington's posture has come as a surprise. What is even more startling is the timing - coming on the heels of India's retaliation against Pakistan for its involvement in the Pahalgam terrorist attacks on civilians. A significant part of Trump's appeal among Indians, both in India and the diaspora, stemmed from his tough stance on terrorism. During Trump 1.0, he publicly called out Pakistan's duplicity in his very first tweet of 2018, accusing it of 'lies and deceit' while receiving billions in US aid. He subsequently cut $300 mn in aid to Pakistan, a move that built on the Obama administration's earlier decision to withhold one-third of all military assistance to the country. During Trump 2.0, consistent with his recalibrated approach toward various global actors, the US president has markedly diverged from his earlier stance, Pakistan being no exception. In February, the Trump regime departed from its broader aid-cutting policy to authorise $397 mn in security assistance to Pakistan. This was specifically aimed at supporting a US-backed programme for maintenance and technical support of Pakistan's F-16 fighter the assistance explicitly stated that it was not to be used for operations against India, reopening of funding channels to Pakistan signalled a broader trend of policy reversal. In March, Trump publicly thanked Pakistan for its assistance in the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, a suspect linked to multiple terrorist attacks, including the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in recently, Trump's consistent attempts to place Pakistan on equal footing with India, particularly following the India-Pak military escalation in May, appear driven by strategic reinforcing this shift, US Centcom chief Michael Kurilla referred to Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counterterrorism efforts. Similarly, Paul Kapur, Trump's incoming assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, affirmed that the US would 'pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to US interests while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment'. Together, these moves reflect a deliberate and coordinated strategy for renewed strategic engagement with apparent rapprochement between the US and Pakistan may be driven largely by Trump's personal inclinations, and a possible desire to secure future economic deals. For Pakistan, warming ties with Washington represent a strategic gain, however temporary. Any signs of improving relations between Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Washington stand in sharp political contrast to the stance of former PM Imran Khan and his supporters in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).Khan had accused the US of orchestrating the fall of his government, and maintained that he would never have agreed to American demands for military bases in his country. If PTI continues to remain a significant political force, any future US requests for enhanced military presence - even under the guise of counterterrorism - are likely to face resistance. Conversely, if Trump intensifies efforts to strike an economic deal with Pakistan, the resulting political reverberations within the country could become even more tough posture during his first term - marked by launching a trade war with China, pursuing a 'maximum pressure' strategy against Iran culminating in the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, and publicly calling out countries like Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism - is now giving way to a policy of modus vivendi, driven by an outsized prioritisation of US interests, particularly economic US-China economic deal reportedly 'finalised' on June 11 underscores this clear shift in US diplomacy - one that increasingly sidelines concerns of Washington's allies, partners and friends. While this approach may serve immediate US interests, especially in economic terms, it risks prompting a strategic recalibration by other nations in how they engage with the the shadow of recent military escalation between India and Pakistan, Pakistan's detente with the US may present an opportunity for Trump. But the strain this reset places on India-US relations could prove detrimental to both countries in the long run. The divergence between New Delhi and Washington is now most pronounced on the issue of Pakistan and, more broadly, on India has strongly reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against terrorism following the Pahalgam attack, the Trump regime appears increasingly willing to engage Pakistan as a counterterrorism partner. In doing so, Trump seems to be prioritising unilateral US interests over shared strategic concerns that have long underpinned the India-US partnership. Unlike his first term, when Trump's South Asia policy broadly aligned with the US-India strategic convergence, his bilateral bets in his second gig risk further destabilising an already fragile region. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. How a nudge from Cyrus Mistry helped TCS unlock a USD1 billion opportunity Explainer: The RBI's LAF corridor and its role in rate transmission Is Zomato under siege? Quick commerce may be the next telecom Operation Sindoor, Turkey, Bangladesh played out as India hosted global airlines after 42 years Coal on one hand and green on the other; this company balances both Stock Radar: Bandhan Bank stocks break out from 1-month consolidation; what should traders do? 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Business Standard
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
From 'lies & deceit' to 'phenomenal partner': How US is rethinking Pakistan
Once dismissed as a haven for 'lies & deceit' by Donald Trump, Pakistan is suddenly back in America's good books — and not just diplomatically, but also as a reliable partner in the global fight against terror. In a major shift from Washington's earlier stance, a top US military general has called Pakistan a 'phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world.' US Centcom chief praises Pakistan's role against ISIS-K General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, Commander of the United States Central Command (Centcom), stunned many during a recent Congressional hearing by praising Pakistan's role in tackling the ISIS-Khorasan threat. 'They [Pakistan] have gone after ISIS-Khorasan, killing dozens of them,' Kurilla said, crediting Islamabad with capturing at least five high-value ISIS-K figures. One of them? Mohammad Sharifullah, aka Jafar — the man allegedly involved in the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing that killed 13 US troops. 'The first person they [Pakistan's Army] called was me,' Kurilla added, referring to Jafar's extradition to the US. 'I've caught him, I'm willing to extradite him back to the United States,' the Pakistani Army Chief reportedly told him. Trump's 'lies & deceit' claim and the turnaround in US-Pakistan ties For those who remember Donald Trump's fiery 2018 tweet, where he blasted Pakistan for giving the US 'nothing but lies & deceit' despite $33 billion in aid — Kurilla's comments mark a reversal. Trump had written: 'They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan… No more!' But times change. And so does geopolitics. Pakistan battles surge in terrorism, says CENTCOM According to Kurilla, Pakistan is not sitting idle. 'Since the beginning of 2024, they've endured over 1,000 terrorist attacks in the western areas, killing about 700 civilians and security forces,' he said. 'They are in an active counter-terrorism fight right now.' This is not just rhetoric. Reuters reported that Pakistan has intensified operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and splinter ISIS cells. Intelligence cooperation with the US, though minimal, is back in motion. US walks diplomatic tightrope between India and Pakistan Kurilla also didn't shy away from the big elephant in the room — India. 'We have to have a relationship with both Pakistan and India. It can't be a binary switch,' he said, indirectly pushing back against the idea that the US must choose between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Indian opposition questions Modi government's foreign policy Meanwhile, the General's remarks sparked a sharp response back in India. Congress party leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Narendra Modi government's foreign policy. 'The US CENTCOM Chief has just described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism'. What do our PM and his cheerleaders have to say about this? Is this not a diplomatic setback?' he wrote on X.
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US military 'grateful to Pakistan' for Sharifullah's arrest
Listen to article The United States Central Command (US Centcom) has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its role in capturing the main suspect behind the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. In a post on its official Urdu-language account on X, US Centcom acknowledged Pakistan's cooperation in arresting Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, an alleged Daesh-Khorasan (ISIS-K) operative. 'We are grateful to Pakistan for its cooperation in the arrest of Sharifullah, the main suspect in the attack on the Abbey Gate of Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, and for its cooperation with the United States in bringing the suspect to justice,' the statement read. The August 2021 bombing at Kabul Airport, which occurred amid the chaotic US-led withdrawal from Afghanistan, killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members. Sharifullah was apprehended in Pakistan following intelligence provided by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to a news agency report. He has confessed to scouting the attack route, officials said. US President Donald Trump announced the arrest during his address to a joint session of Congress, calling Sharifullah a 'monster' and thanking Pakistan for its assistance. 'This is a very huge day for the affected families,' Trump said. Sharifullah has since been extradited to the United States and produced before a court in Virginia. According to the US Justice Department, he has admitted involvement in multiple attacks, including the March 2024 attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall. He allegedly provided video instructions on using AK-style rifles and other weapons to would-be attackers. US Centcom highlighted the collaboration between Islamabad and Washington, saying both nations share a 'common interest in the war on terrorism.'
