Pakistan-US Relations Under Trump Administration: Opportunities and Challenges

Since 9/1 1, the US' policies towards Pakistan are constituted under organizational process. Continuation of drone strikes In the Pak-Afghan border areas Is one of such examples of this organizational process. Trump'scognitive approach towards l'ak1stan seems relatively pos1t 1ve, as 1t has been observed through his books, speeches and initial executive orders. This paper largely predicts that state specific approach, I.e., conditional engagement with Pakistan, will gradually overwhelm the actor spedfic approach,i.e., cordial relationship with active stable role in the region. The paper will comprehensively address variables such as War on Terror, trade policy, relations with India as a balancer to China and Afghanistan war,etc. The study examines that factors like Afghanistan, counter­ terrarism, geo-polltics offer both opportunities and challenges due to different policies of leadership and state institutions. The hypothesis of the study is that though actor-specifi c approach Is offering some opportunities to Pakistan, yet the organizational process will keep posing challenges in the strategic relationship between Pakistan and the US. The paper concludes that the future of Pakistan-US relations w/11 be largely depending upon Pakistan 's security policies and the terms of re­ engagement, with wider geopolitical realities weighing in on the calculations by both countries. The study finds that there will be more challenges then opportunities for Pakistan under the Trump administration.