Monitoring Desk: In a recent episode of CNN’s show hosted by renowned anchor Fareed Zakaria, it was observed that Washington now views Pakistan as a capable military partner—particularly in the Middle East.
Analysts, including Uzair Yunus, argued that the May 2025 India–Pakistan conflict significantly altered U.S. policy dynamics toward Pakistan. The events, which Pakistan refers to as Marka-e-Haq, demonstrated that Pakistan not only successfully deflected Indian airstrikes and shot down several fighter jets, but also proved to the world that it possesses superior conventional warfare capabilities compared to India.
Participants on the show noted that Pakistan’s military performance did not go unnoticed by Saudi Arabia, which has since signed a mutual defense agreement with Islamabad. These developments reflect Pakistan’s emerging status as a serious security partner in the region. They further observed that Pakistan’s military leadership has displayed notable political agility and strategic finesse in building ties with Donald Trump.
The panelists agreed that a significant shift has occurred in U.S.–Pakistan relations. For years, successive American administrations kept Pakistan at arm’s length—favoring India as a counterbalance to China—while viewing Pakistan as unreliable, tied to terror networks, and closely aligned with Beijing. However, Donald Trump has rapidly reversed this stance. His public praise of Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, whom he called “my favorite field marshal,” sent a clear message about the kind of relationship Pakistan has developed with the U.S. establishment.
In July, the United States and Pakistan finalized a tariff agreement and launched a joint initiative to explore Pakistan’s oil reserves, though the long-term economic prospects remain uncertain. Nonetheless, Pakistan now enjoys genuine strategic importance—thanks to its military capabilities and critical geographic position.
