Dealing with Trump

Pakistan seeks early engagement with Trump’s administration to strengthen bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

Islamabad's eagerness to establish early contacts with the incoming US administration is meant to apprise it of the evolving geopolitical and security paradigms. Pakistan, being an allied-ally of the lone superpower, enjoys a pivotal status in decision-making in the region, and President-elect Donald Trump by virtue of his liability-free Afghan policy is expected to closely work with it.

This is why close on the heels of felicitations to the Republican leader, who is returning to White House on a popular vote, Pakistan endeavours to send in the right signals of cooperation in an attempt to not only further regionalism but also bilateralism to its best.

It will, however, involve some astute meddling as Trump has his own vision for America. He has outlined a foreign policy that wants to see an end to war in Ukraine; address the historic dispute over Palestine by prevailing over Israel and Arab states; limit alignment with Europe; and curtail big spending on NATO.

That means Pakistan acquires a lesser degree of priority, and Trump is not one of those who believes in playing India or Pakistan strategic card for making an impact.

The fact that the US president-elect had himself called for playing a role in mediating between the two South Asian rivals attains importance, and this is what he should be reminded in all humility.

Likewise, a new counter-terrorism policy perspective on Afghanistan will need Pakistan's engagement, and open new vistas of cooperation.

Last but not least, as Trump advocates a protectionist economic strategy and has his own climate change softies to float, Pakistan must be part of the new deal in the region and beyond.

On the domestic front, there are issues that the Trump administration will be taking exceptions to, unlike his predecessor. While the Pakistani diaspora had campaigned for him on a pro-PTI agenda, its effects will be on the cards as he assumes office.

In the same vein, Trump and jailed leader Imran Khan's similar wavelength on a host of issues will keep the ball rolling.