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In a forthright and unusually assertive interview on Talk to Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister issued a pointed challenge to Washington’s evolving South Asia strategy: “Can the United States afford to ignore Pakistan?”

The question was more than a diplomatic provocation—it was a reflection of Pakistan’s growing unease as the U.S. reshapes its regional priorities, deepens its partnership with India, and reduces its engagement with Islamabad. At a time when global power balances are shifting, the Foreign Minister’s remarks underscore Islamabad’s determination to remind Washington of Pakistan’s enduring strategic relevance.

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A Strategic Relationship Under Strain

Pakistan and the United States have long shared a complicated yet interdependent relationship. From the Cold War to the post-9/11 era, the two countries have cooperated on intelligence, counterterrorism, and regional stability. But the relationship has also been marked by persistent mistrust, diverging interests, and periodic downturns.

In recent years, U.S. foreign policy has undergone a clear pivot toward India, driven by shared economic interests and a common desire to counter China’s growing power. This shift has left Pakistan questioning Washington’s intentions and long-term commitment.

The Foreign Minister’s comment was therefore a sharp reminder: Pakistan is not a country the U.S. can simply overlook without strategic consequences.

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The Case for Pakistan’s Continued Relevance

During the interview, the minister laid out several reasons why U.S. disengagement from Pakistan would be a geopolitical miscalculation.

1. Counterterrorism: A Frontline State the U.S. Still Needs

Pakistan continues to face threats from groups such as the TTP, ISIS-K, and other regional militants emboldened by the instability in Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister stressed that Pakistan’s cooperation is critical for preventing terrorist networks from gaining a broader foothold.

Without Pakistan’s intelligence coordination, he argued, the U.S. risks losing situational awareness in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

2. Afghanistan: No Stability Without Pakistan

The U.S. exit from Afghanistan in 2021 fundamentally reshaped regional security. With the Taliban back in power and extremist spillover growing, Pakistan says it is bearing the brunt—terrorism, refugees, and economic strain.

The minister warned that isolating Pakistan only weakens U.S. leverage in Afghanistan, where Washington already has limited influence.

3. Nuclear Security and Strategic Balance

Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state with advanced deterrent capabilities. Strategic communication between Washington and Islamabad, the FM insisted, is essential for preventing miscalculations in a region where nuclear flashpoints—from Kashmir to border tensions—are a persistent concern.

4. The China Factor: A Vacuum the U.S. Does Not Want to Create

China’s presence in Pakistan through the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) continues to grow. The FM made it clear:
If the U.S. distances itself, Pakistan will naturally deepen its ties with Beijing.

For Washington—already facing a global contest with China—ceding influence in Pakistan could prove costly.

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Pakistan’s Frustration with the U.S.–India Alignment

A major theme of the Foreign Minister’s remarks was Pakistan’s discomfort with Washington’s increasingly close partnership with New Delhi. While acknowledging that sovereign nations are free to build relationships, he questioned the imbalance created by the U.S. overlooking:

• India’s military assertiveness
• Rights abuses in Kashmir
• Rising Hindu nationalist extremism
• India’s expanding arsenal and regional ambitions

He warned that ignoring Pakistan while empowering India could upset the fragile strategic balance in South Asia.

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Economic Pressures and the Need for Fairer Engagement

Beyond security issues, Pakistan’s economic crisis—marked by soaring debt, inflation, and IMF dependency—was another focal point. The Foreign Minister urged Washington to engage Pakistan with fairness, not favor:

• more equitable trade access
• investment in energy and digital sectors
• support beyond IMF conditionalities
• long-term development cooperation

He argued that a stable Pakistan is in America’s economic and security interests.

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The Afghan Fallout: Pakistan Paying the Price

The FM criticized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan for being abrupt and poorly planned. As a result, Pakistan has faced:

• intensified cross-border terrorism
• over a million undocumented Afghan refugees
• security and economic burdens
• a collapse of regional counter-terror coordination

By disengaging from Pakistan, he argued, the U.S. risks amplifying these problems further.

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A Call for Equal Partnership, Not Transactional Ties

Despite the strong criticism, the minister was clear: Pakistan does not seek a rupture but a relationship reset based on:

• consistent diplomatic dialogue
• balanced U.S. engagement in South Asia
• shared counter-extremism efforts
• climate and energy partnerships
• trade, technology, and education cooperation

He stressed that Pakistan wants dignity and respect—not the transactional, episodic engagement that has long defined the relationship.

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Can the U.S. Really Ignore Pakistan?

The central question remains:
Does Washington still need Pakistan?

From the Foreign Minister’s perspective, the answer is unequivocally yes.

Pakistan remains:

• a nuclear power
• an essential player in Afghan affairs
• a key to counterterrorism
• a bridge between South and Central Asia
• a major theater in the U.S.–China rivalry

Ignoring Pakistan, he warned, would weaken U.S. influence and create strategic vacuums that others—particularly China—would fill immediately.

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A Diplomatic Warning Shot

The Pakistani Foreign Minister’s interview was not just an expression of frustration—it was a calibrated diplomatic signal. As global power shifts accelerate, Islamabad wants Washington to reconsider its narrowing focus on India and re-engage Pakistan as a meaningful partner.

Whether the U.S. listens—or continues its selective engagement—will shape the future of South Asian stability and the broader dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.

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