America’s Strategic Blunder: Has the US Just Gone ‘Full Pakistan’?
America Just Went Full Pakistan. It Won’t End Well
There’s an old unwritten rule in geopolitics: never go full Pakistan. That rule exists for a reason. And yet, watching recent developments, it’s hard not to feel that the United States, particularly under the shadow of Donald Trump’s political re-emergence, is ignoring this wisdom entirely.
In a string of surprising statements, both Trump and senior US military officials have begun showering praise on Pakistan, calling it a “phenomenal partner” in the fight against terrorism. Let that sink in.
Washington’s Newfound Love for Islamabad
A top US Army General recently claimed that Pakistan has been actively helping in anti-terror operations, including sharing intelligence and handing over high-value ISIS targets. One such case mentioned involved Zafar, a terrorist allegedly captured and extradited to the US by Pakistani authorities. The general even stated that the US seeks equally good relations with both India and Pakistan, making it sound like both nations are morally and strategically equivalent.
For India and frankly, for anyone who understands the region this sounds not just off-key but dangerously naive.
The Disconnect Between US Statements and Ground Reality
Let’s be clear: the statements from US military officials and Trump don’t just gloss over Pakistan’s history, they run counter to years of warnings from Indian intelligence and even several UN submissions. Pakistan is not simply “complicated”; it has a well-documented pattern of enabling terrorism while pretending to fight it.
Even as US generals praise Islamabad, the FBI Director, Kash Patel, revealed that a Pakistani national, Muhammad Shahzad Khan, who had been living in Canada, was extradited for plotting a major ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New York. He was reportedly planning a mass shooting at a Jewish community center in Brooklyn.
So here’s the contradiction: the same Pakistan the US is calling a “trusted partner” is the origin of individuals attempting to carry out deadly attacks on American soil. If this isn’t a red flag, what is?
A Pattern of Tactical Gestures from Pakistan
To be fair, Pakistan knows how to play the game. It hands over one terrorist when it senses an opportunity to gain favor, invests in crypto ventures linked to people in Trump’s orbit, and engages in PR tactics just enough to reset the narrative. And time and again, some in Washington fall for it.
This is classic Pakistani statecraft give just enough cooperation to avoid scrutiny while keeping its deep-state games running in the background. From the ISI’s support to the Taliban to sheltering Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, the list is long and damning. But somehow, it’s as if each new US administration has to learn this lesson all over again.
The F-35 Frustration: Is India Being Punished for Saying No?
So, why this sudden tilt toward Pakistan? One possible reason lies in a jet: the F-35. The US was lobbying hard for India to purchase the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. But New Delhi, following its path of strategic autonomy, seems to have declined. Instead, India is doubling down on its indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) project and even exploring the possibility of acquiring Russia’s Su-57 jets.
This has clearly irked Washington. For Trump, who sees diplomacy in terms of deals and optics, India’s lack of interest in the F-35 might have been a personal slight. And that could explain this recent pivot elevating Pakistan to send a signal to India: if you won’t play ball, we have other partners.
But let’s be honest: Pakistan is no alternative to India. Not economically, not democratically, not strategically.
The Bigger Picture: US Risks Undermining Long-Term Trust
What Washington may fail to realize is that this flirtation with Islamabad could damage one of its most important partnerships of the 21st century its relationship with India. India isn’t just another ally; it’s a rising power, the world’s most populous democracy, and a key player in counterbalancing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.
By placing Pakistan on the same pedestal especially a Pakistan with a proven track record of enabling terrorism, the US risks losing credibility, not just in New Delhi but across the democratic world.
And it’s not like Pakistan has suddenly changed. Their HQ-9 air defense system doesn’t work, multiple air bases have been destroyed in strikes, and their military remains deeply intertwined with fundamentalist networks. Meanwhile, India has scaled up its indigenous defense production, gained global diplomatic stature, and continues to lead the charge against terrorism.
Looking Ahead: A Miscalculation the US Might Regret
It seems inevitable now that Pakistan’s new Field Marshal, Asim Munir, will be invited to the US for Trump’s military parade perhaps even welcomed with full honors. The symbolism will be loud and clear. But when the time comes for India to respond whether by resuming military operations like Operation Sindoor or further distancing itself from US-led defense initiatives, Washington may find itself in a diplomatic mess of its own making.
Because here’s the hard truth: no matter how many statements or parades you organize, a country that produces terrorists and glorifies them at funerals is not a reliable partner.
The US might believe that it can balance relations with both India and Pakistan. But in trying to appease Islamabad while alienating New Delhi, it risks ending up with neither fully on its side.
Conclusion
The United States’ recent overtures to Pakistan reflect a troubling misreading of South Asia’s geopolitical realities. In trying to signal disapproval toward India, possibly over the F-35 deal, Washington appears willing to whitewash Pakistan’s long-standing ties to terrorism. This isn’t strategic balance; it’s strategic confusion.
India’s trajectory is rooted in self-reliance, global engagement, and counter-terror integrity. Pakistan’s is marked by duplicity, instability, and tactical opportunism. Equating the two is not just inaccurate, it’s dangerous.
If the US believes it can play both sides, it may soon learn the hard way that courting short-term gains with Pakistan could come at the cost of long-term trust with India. And history has shown: going full Pakistan never ends well.