Pakistan's Strategic Miscalculation: Trump, Tehran, And The Cost Of Misplaced Trust
Asim Munir, who had spent months manipulating Pakistan's political structure and suppressing dissent, was himself played by Donald Trump.
In a seismic show of force, the United States on June 22 executed a devastating strike against Iran's core nuclear infrastructure. The Fordow enrichment complex, nestled deep within a mountain, was targeted by a fleet of B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers in what became the largest and second-longest B-2 mission in US military history. Almost simultaneously, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines slammed into Iran's key sites at Isfahan and Natanz.
President Donald Trump, never one to understate his actions, proclaimed later that day: '…The strikes have been spectacularly successful. Iran's key nuclear facilities have been completely and totally obliterated…"
These weren't hollow words. The mission employed eight GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—each capable of delivering over 6,000 pounds of high explosives. Even if the bombs didn't reach the deepest subterranean vaults of Fordow, the sheer concussive force of nearly 48 tons of explosives in a confined space left little doubt: Iran's sensitive nuclear equipment is no longer operational. The devastation at Natanz and Isfahan—far more vulnerable sites—would be even more complete.
The US had long harboured ambitions of dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure. But what had been missing for years was the political will. That changed in June 2025. With this one sweeping strike, 'Project Amad", Iran's covert nuclear program first initiated in the 2000s, now lies in ruins. The regime in Tehran, which drew its power and deterrence from nuclear ambiguity, has been jolted into a crisis.
A Perfectly Sequenced Campaign with Israel
Starting mid-June, Israel escalated to strategic targets inside Iran – hitting power grids, oil depots, tunnels, air bases, and even targeting nuclear scientists and senior commanders. The precision and lethality of these operations sent shockwaves through Iran's military and political hierarchy. Facing unprecedented disruption, the Iranian leadership retreated into digital silence, severely limiting communication and mobility. This inherently caused a paralysis in knowing, decision-making and acting against what was coming.
Only once Israel had softened Iran's defences did the United States strike, leveraging its stealth capabilities and missile supremacy to hit targets only it could neutralise. The result was a textbook execution of a joint strategic playbook, demonstrating new levels of coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Grey Zone Warfare: A Six-Dimensional Offensive
This campaign was a prime example of modern Grey Zone Warfare, waged across six interlinked domains: Diplomatic, Information (including intelligence), Military, Economic, Political, and Technological (DIME-PT).
Diplomatically, it reshaped the power equations in West Asia.
Militarily, it showcased stealth dominance and kinetic precision.
Economically, it targeted critical infrastructure that funds Iranian regional influence.
Politically, it cornered the Iranian regime at home and abroad.
Technologically, it employed unmatched capabilities in cyber, stealth, and satellite warfare.
Informationally, it seized the narrative, leaving no ambiguity about American resolve.
Neither Russia nor China – Iran's supposed backers – made any significant move to deter or respond. India, historically friendly with both Iran and Israel, maintained strategic silence – an indication of tacit approval. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Iran's neighbour and erstwhile ally, found itself scrambling for relevance, and in the process, revealed the deep flaws in its strategic thinking.
Pakistan: The Cost of Being Played
In the lead-up to the US strike, Pakistan was caught playing a dangerous double game. Just a day before the bombing, Pakistan's government reportedly proposed nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize – a surreal move given Trump's well-known hawkish stance on both Iran and Pakistan. Within 24 hours, the same government was publicly condemning Trump for bombing Iran's nuclear sites.
This flip-flop was more than a diplomatic embarrassment – it exposed the strategic shallowness of Pakistan's power elite.
The central figure in this misadventure was General Asim Munir, who had recently self-promoted to Field Marshal after India's Operation Sindoor, which shattered Pakistan's nuclear deterrence bluff. Seeking international validation, Munir flew to Washington and was hosted by Trump at a high-profile White House luncheon.
Overwhelmed by praise, and blind to precedent, Munir appeared to miss a crucial detail: Trump had not forgotten his own words from 2018, when he declared: '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 and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan. No more!"
Yet here was Munir – naively believing flattery and symbolism would reset the clock. While he publicly signalled support for Iran, he quietly offered strategic cooperation to the United States, hoping to position Pakistan as a regional mediator. Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister, parroted this illusion on social media, claiming to have spoken to the Iranian President 'to express Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Iran."
A Masterclass in Strategic Deception – But Not by Pakistan
What played out was a masterclass in American strategic deception – not by Pakistan, but against Pakistan. Munir, who had spent months manipulating Pakistan's political structure and suppressing dissent, was himself played by Trump. In offering backdoor deals, mineral access, and intelligence cooperation, Pakistan hoped to regain Washington's trust.
But Trump – and the US national security establishment – saw through it. Pakistan was using the same tactics it once employed with China, offering mineral rights and geostrategic leverage as bait. China learned its $64 billion CPEC lesson slowly. The United States learned it overnight.
What remains is a country that has betrayed old allies like Iran, undermined its credibility, and overestimated its importance in a new regional order.
A Self-Inflicted Wound
The US strike on Iran was more than a military triumph – it was a strategic earthquake. For Pakistan, it exposed not just a diplomatic failure, but a crisis of judgement. Caught between old loyalties and new ambitions, Pakistan bet on the wrong strategy – and perhaps the wrong president.
In the brutal clarity of international affairs, there are no rewards for sycophancy, only consequences. The United States acted decisively. Israel coordinated expertly. Iran miscalculated fatally. And Pakistan – well, Pakistan simply played itself.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
About the Author
Brigadier Brijesh Pandey
Brig Brijesh Pandey is a veteran with distinguished career of 35+ years in Indian Army, specialising in Artillery and pioneering Information Warfare. Proven leader with expertise in strategic planning, tactical...Read More
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Asim Munir donald trump Israel-Iran tensions pakistan
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First Published:
June 23, 2025, 13:56 IST
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