Islamabad:
Many world leaders who visited the White House since US President Donald Trump began his second term in January was not warmly received. Trump’s tense show with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remained fresh in public memory.
In this context, there was great curiosity as to what awaited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Marshal in the field of September 25 at the White House. The observers have speculated on the reception that the civil and military leaders of Pakistan would receive.
Trump, known to transform each meeting into a public performance, surprised a lot by keeping the commitment strictly in camera. The usual appearance of the oval oval press before official discussions was visibly absent. Instead, the White House left only a short video clip and some fixed images, limited but saying the glimpse of what happened.
Judging by the visuals and the official reading, the meeting appeared cordial and constructive, a striking gap in the combative style of Trump.
The meeting also marked a significant reversal in American-Pakistani relations. Before Trump’s return to his duties, most experts had predicted dark prospects for bilateral links under Trump 2.0. However, these hypotheses were upset. When Prime Minister Shehbaz, accompanied by Marshal in the field, met Trump in Washington, he reported an important step towards resetting tight links.
According to sources, Pakistan has managed to carve out a political space for itself and convince the Trump administration of its continuous relevance in regional affairs. Unlike the past, Islamabad does not require security or financial assistance. Instead, the emphasis is used to take advantage of its relationship with Washington for a political advantage at a time of movement of global alignments.
Familiar officials with commitment explained that criticisms can judge the outcome of reset in purely important terms, such as aid packages, commercial concessions or military equipment. However, the real objective, he insists, is political. “If Pakistan was not on the right side of Trump, it could have been a great drawback,” said a source.
The meeting took place in the context of the evolution of dynamics in South Asia. New Delhi’s former Washington, in recent months, in particular due to trade disputes and divergent priorities.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration continues to put pressure on a hard line on immigration and foreign policy, which makes it essential for countries like Pakistan to obtain direct communication channels at the highest level.
Analysts believe that Pakistan leadership seeks to position themselves as a relevant player in the evolutionary calculation of Washington on Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism and regional stability. The presence of the field marshal at talks was considered a clear signal that the civil and military leaders of Pakistan are aligned with this approach.
Although it remains to be seen how this political reset will result in concrete results, those responsible insist that commitment has already helped Pakistan to avoid strategic isolation. “Dividends may not be immediate,” said a source, “but keeping the United States engaged is, in itself, a major victory.”
Another source has added that Pakistan has so far managed to position itself as a relevant actor in global policy. The Saudi-Pakistani defense agreement and the presence of Pakistan at the Arab-Islamic summit organized by Trump in New York underlined the geostrategic profile of Islamabad.
