Pakistan has initiated efforts to establish early contact with the incoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is keen to personally congratulate Trump and open a direct line of communication. The Pakistan Embassy in Washington is set to request a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Sharif and Trump.
Since Trump’s victory, he has already spoken with several world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In contrast, President Joe Biden did not engage with any Pakistani prime ministers after his victory in 2020, breaking the tradition of world leaders congratulating the new US president. However, Trump, after winning the election in 2016, spoke directly to then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even before his official swearing-in.
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Pakistani officials are hopeful that Trump will adopt a similar approach and reach out to Shehbaz soon. Many supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan also believe that Trump may call Shehbaz to discuss Khan’s release, although the Foreign Office dismissed such speculations, emphasizing that Pakistan expects the Trump administration to maintain bilateral relations based on “mutual respect and non-interference.”
Despite Pakistan’s reduced relevance to the US after the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the two countries still share some areas of common interest. However, Trump’s policies, including potential tariffs on goods and his hardline stances on Iran and China, may pose challenges for Pakistan. There is some hope that Saudi Arabia, which has a close relationship with Trump, could play a role in mitigating any tensions between Pakistan and the US.
Pakistan’s goal in seeking early engagement is to ensure that its core interests are not negatively affected by the transition of power in the White House.
