“The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”
— Donald Trump : POTUS January 1. 2018
“We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilisation, order, and to peace”.
— Donald Trump POTUS : August 2017
In May 2025, after boasting that it was he who brokered a ceasefire between the India and Pakistan conflict following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, Trump refers to Pakistan now as a “great nation” without directly accusing Pakistan of having supporting terrorism!
What’s the possible reason for Trump’s volte-face?
Trump’s appears intoxicated by the “MAGA” cocktail he has brewed for America — a mix of diplomatic, economic, and strategic considerations aimed at bolstering the sagging US ability to influence and bring about a new world order. Trump sees no stability in Europe (Ukraine- Russia), in South America (Panama- Venezuela) , in East Asia (China and tariffs) , in Middle East (Iran/Israel) and in South Asia (India-Pakistan). This POTUS has figured out that unless he figures out a way to make America great again in world affairs is to go back to the old tried and tested imperialist policy of sowing seeds of conflict between regional powers ( both major and minor ones too like Pakistan) in every corner of the world.
Sowing Chaos is the best way to make America great again in the eyes of the world.
Several factors therefore likely explain Trump’s volte face on Pakistan’s terrorist involvement:
• Diplomatic Priorities: After brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Trump thinks shifting focus to promoting peace and stability between the two nations in the region, will position the U.S. as a political mediator rather than as anti-terrorism crusader.
• Economic Interests: Trump has publicly stated that increased trade between countries can be a major reason for reducing hostilities, and he has expressed intentions to boost US trade with both India and Pakistan.
• Strategic Calculations: The U.S. recently exempted $397 million in security assistance to Pakistan for so-called counterterrorism cooperation which must be prioritized if it serves U.S. interests and even if Pakistan might again give in return only “ lies and deceit”. In this context the “New Normal” Modi-enunciated Doctrine of Zero Tolerance for Pakistani Terrorism queers the pitch for America’s (CIA) own strategic interests and manoeuvre room here in West Asia (Taliban, Iran, Yemen and Palestine).
• Changing Regional Dynamics: With Pakistan strengthening ties with China and the U.S. recalibrating its South Asia policy post its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trump’s administration may be now seeing engagement with Pakistan as necessary for broader strategic goals. India is not as easy as Pakistan to browbeat and pressure into abiding by US foreign policy dictates in South Asia. Even within the QUAD, America has found India to be often testing its patience. And it certainly greatly irks America that India’s ties with Russia remain much warmer and far more durable than they ever were with the USA .
All the above factors may be leading gradually to some kind of a broad level of rehabilitation setting into US- Pakistan relations which since 2016 had gone a bit rancid.
This imperceptible but definite diplomatic shift that is taking place right under their noses is a development which both India and China will have to monitor closely and very concernedly in the years ahead.
The bottom-line : Let’s face reality India ! Terrorism means different things to different people . In Pakistan it is a cottage industry. For India , it is a scourge. For America , it is strategic portfolio investment.
Sudarshan Madabushi