US shift towards Pakistan may unsettle India and the South Asia balance
White House lunch date between Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and US President Donald Trump was a renewal of high-level US-Pakistani engagement that suggested a potential rebalancing of US priorities in South Asia.
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The visit, closely watched by stakeholders in South Asia and observers of Washington's policy on the region, has raised questions about the future of the US-India strategic partnership – particularly as US-China tensions appear to be easing and Trump seems
more than eager to strike a deal with China, an 'iron brother' of Pakistan.
Yet the significance of the lunch meeting should not be overstated: it signals flexibility, not a complete shift in priorities. It reflects a deal-centric approach that aligns with Trump's broader foreign policy instincts while introducing risks that could unsettle South Asia's delicate geopolitical balance.
For one, the meeting – the first time a senior Pakistani official has been hosted in the White House in six years – marks a clear departure from the Biden administration's approach, which prioritised strengthening ties with India.
Former president Joe Biden's strategy leaned heavily on India as a counterweight to China, emphasising shared democratic values. In contrast, Trump's decision to allow Pakistani leadership back into the White House for a visit reflects a return to
transactional diplomacy , favouring more immediate economic and strategic interests over ideological alignment.
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