Caught in a crossfire

The mixed reactions to Trump's presidency in Pakistan stem from historical US-Pak tensions, strategic ties with China, and evolving US-India dynamics, as Islamabad also faces mounting pressure on terrorism and regional policies

- SHANTANU MUKHARJI

There have been interesting and mixed reactions in Pakistan's polity and security establishment in the aftermath of the US electoral verdict, which returned Donald Trump as the next President of the United States.

In the not-so-distant past, Pakistan's relations with the US have been marked by unease and uncertainty. The US has always viewed Pakistan with suspicion, chiefly due to its close ties with China, which has been a point of contention for the US. This element is expected to remain crucial, as Trump, despite his mercurial unpredictability, is unlikely to be as soft on Pakistan as some of his Republican predecessors.

To further dwell upon the subject from a historical perspective, it is not out of context to recall that President Richard Nixon offered unwavering support to Pakistan during its military aggression against India, which ultimately led to the dismemberment of Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh. Nixon, thought to be blindly influenced by Henry Kissinger's recommendations, even went so far as to dispatch the US Navy's Seventh Fleet in a show of force to intimidate India. However, this strategy failed, and India prevailed.