Pakistan has decided to reach out to former President Trump’s transition team to establish early communication with the incoming administration.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is eager to personally congratulate President-elect Trump and initiate direct communication with his team.
To facilitate this, Pakistan’s Embassy in Washington will soon contact Trump’s transition team to arrange a phone call with the new US president.
Since his remarkable return to the White House, Trump has been engaging with world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
It is customary for global leaders to phone the newly elected US president, although President Joe Biden broke with this tradition, never contacting any Pakistani prime minister after his win in November 2020.
In contrast, after his 2016 election win, Trump spoke to then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before his official inauguration, despite criticizing Pakistan’s role in combating terrorism during his campaign.
Given Trump’s unconventional approach, Pakistani officials are hopeful he will deviate from Biden’s policy and speak to Shehbaz soon. Supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan also believe Trump may reach out to ensure Khan’s release.
However, the Foreign Office has dismissed such speculations, emphasizing that Pakistan expects the Trump administration to maintain bilateral ties based on “mutual respect and non-interference” in each other’s domestic affairs.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has already congratulated Trump on his victory and expressed Pakistan’s intent to continue collaborating with the US under his leadership.
While Pakistan’s relevance to Washington has waned since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, there are still areas of potential cooperation between the two nations.
Trump has outlined priorities that could impact Pakistan negatively, including his proposal for tariffs of 10 to 20 percent on all goods imported to the US, which is Pakistan’s largest export market.
Trump’s hardline approach toward Iran and China, key neighbors of Pakistan, could also pose challenges, although some officials believe Saudi Arabia could help mediate any tensions with the new administration.
Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have a close relationship, and MBS was one of the first leaders to congratulate Trump after his victory. Interestingly, when MBS called Trump, Pakistan’s army chief General Syed Asim Munir was in Saudi Arabia.
Historically, Saudi Arabia has served as a bridge between Pakistan and the US during strained periods in their relationship. Pakistan’s push for early engagement with the incoming administration is aimed at protecting its core interests amid the change in leadership at the White House.
