President Donald Trump has made headlines in Pakistan after thanking the government for helping capture Mohammad Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul.
Pakistan’s intelligence services apprehended Afghan national Sharifullah from the Pak-Afghan border region in light of intelligence reports from the CIA. His extradition to the U.S. prompted Trump, in an address to Congress, to “thank especially the Government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster.”
This explicit appreciation, marking Trump’s first public mention of Pakistan since assuming office, challenges narratives propagated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Over the past year, the party has repeatedly claimed the U.S. president is sympathetic to their concerns. Several PTI leaders, in both the U.S. and Pakistan, have gone so far as to insinuate that Trump would demand Khan’s release from prison and impose sanctions on military officials and the civilian leadership. The U.S. president’s commendation of Pakistan’s role in the counterterrorism operation—and no mention of Khan, the PTI, or Pakistan’s democratic process—makes clear that for Washington, security collaboration takes precedence over any political considerations.
Under Trump’s leadership, U.S. foreign policy has increasingly shifted to a transactional approach, focusing on tangible outcomes in bilateral relations. Supported by his domestic base, he has emphasized cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as counterterrorism, while avoiding interference in the domestic political affairs of partner nations. His acknowledgment of Pakistan’s assistance highlights the same willingness to engage on specific deliverables rather than ideological alignments.
The remarks also mark a rare diplomatic win for Pakistan, which saw strained ties with the U.S. under President Joe Biden. Washington’s growing proximity to India and concerns over China’s expanding influence in the region have often left Pakistan in a precarious position, grappling with waning geopolitical significance. Disagreements over Afghanistan’s future and Pakistan’s role therein further strained bilateral ties during the Biden administration.
Trump’s appreciation offers a potential path to future cooperation between Pakistan and the U.S., but requires Islamabad to proceed with caution. The commendation may offer a salve to deteriorating ties, but there is no guarantee it can persist if the U.S. perceives its strategic interests under threat. To avoid any potential pitfalls, Pakistan must ensure its foreign policy remains anchored in consistent and transparent engagement. The only constant in Pak-U.S. ties has been inconsistency. It is only by ensuring the swift addressing of mutual interests that Islamabad can maintain a stable partnership with Washington.