The language
In just two months, U.S. President Trump has met with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff twice. Asim Munir¡£
The red carpet of the White House was spread to the door, military plane transportation and state banquet treatment, and the Pakistani media were as excited as the Chinese New Year.
After four years of being "cooled down", the enthusiasm of the United States has completely flooded Pakistan:
"The friendship between the United States and Pakistan is rekindled!"¡°The New Century Collaboration officially begins!¡±

But behind this "reunion", all enthusiasm hides an abacus.
Because this seemingly win-win cooperation is actually a** ¡°political transaction of ghosts¡±**.

1. Trump frequently shows up: He wants more than just "cooperation"

After Trump took office, diplomatic actions reversed one after another.
A few months ago, he was criticizing Muslim countries for "inaction", but now he personally invited Munir into the White House, calling him "an important partner of the United States in South Asia" with a smile.

Why do you suddenly turn your attitude 180 degrees?

The reason is actually very realistic-Trump needs a "cheap Middle Eastern agent."

[First Abacus: Restart the "Abraham Agreement"]
Trump has always wanted to leave a ¡°historical legacy¡± in the Middle East.
He hopes Let Arab countries sign a peace agreement with Israel againWeakening Iran¡¯s influence.

But the current conflict in Gaza has turned upside down, and neither Saudi Arabia nor Egypt dare to stand up easily.
Trump is looking at Pakistan.

Pakistan is both Muslim nuclear powers, and signed a defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia-
In Trump's view, this is simply a godsend "vanguard in the Middle East."

He hoped that Munir would send Pakistani troops into Gaza to ease the situation in the name of "peace".
But to be honest, it is to want Pakistan to be a ¡°fireplace¡± and work dirty for the United States.

Netanyahu has publicly refused foreign forces to intervene, and if the Pakistani army really intervened, it would not only fall into the mud, but could also be besieged by hostile forces from all sides at the same time.
It's not peacekeeping, it's a suicide mission.

[Second Abacus: Focus on Afghanistan]
Trump is concerned about Afghanistan.
He personally ordered the withdrawal of troops, but now he regrets seeing the Taliban in power and frequent terrorist attacks.

Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban are tense and the border friction continues.
Trump starts the calculation: Let the Pakistani army go to the front line and "clean up the battlefield" for the United States.¡£

It can recover the strategic stronghold Bagram Air Force Base without using US troops.
Kill two birds with one stone.

This is Trump¡¯s ¡°smartness.¡±
Using the Pakistani army, you yourself a few dollars behind.

2. Pakistan's "Sweet Trap": From Vigilance to "Love Brain"

On the other hand, Pakistani military leadership appears to be distracted by this ¡°importance.¡±

When Munir visited the United States, he not only brought a diplomatic team, but also brought a report List of rare earth mining investments¡£
According to the Sun, he promoted in Washington ¡°open port, energy, and mining cooperation projects¡± and announced that 65 U.S. companies will participate in the construction of ports and industrial parks in Pakistan¡£

Which means-
The United States is re-engaging in Pakistan's infrastructure core.

To be known, these ports were originally the key projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Over the past decade, Chinese companies have invested huge amounts of money in the construction of the port of Guadalcanal to help Pakistan modernize energy and logistics.

Now, American capital has suddenly returned, and Pakistan has signed a new contract while verbally saying "not giving up China-Pakistan cooperation".

This is not "pluralistic diplomacy", this is * * "swing and temptation" * *.

Third, the people are delighted, the military robbed, the prime minister "hidden"

It is surprising that the public opinion in Pakistan is well-known.
On social media, "America is back" and "Munir makes the world know Pakistan Railway again" are swiped.

The civilian population of Pakistan is really hungry for foreign capital and dollars.
But they ignored one thing: this time it was not the government, but the military.

Munir fully "took over the microphone" in diplomacy, and Prime Minister Sharif almost became the background.
This is not unfamiliar in the history of Pakistan-whenever the military dominates diplomacy, it often means a return to the "quasi-military era."

In the past, Zia Haq and Musharraf used "cooperation with the United States" as a tool for consolidating power.
Now Munir seems to be repeating the same script.

4. The United States '"sugar-coated shell": The more cooperation, the deeper the trap

On the surface, the conditions thrown by the United States are quite attractive:
Invest in ports, provide loans, and expand military aid.

But if you look closely at the terms of the agreement, you will discover the mystery--
All U.S. investment projects U.S. dominance and technical standards£»
Profits are returned to the United States and debts are left to Pakistan.

This is similar to the ¡°investment exchange control¡± that the United States carried out in the Philippines and Vietnam.
Surface is cooperation, and the principle is ¡°a new version of economic colonization.¡±

More importantly, the U.S. attitude toward Pakistan has been ¡°exhausted and abandoned¡± throughout history.

During the Cold War, the United States resisted the Soviet Union in return. Extremism and the Spread of Terrorism£»
During the war on terrorism, Pakistan sent troops to support it, but was accused of "harbouring terrorists";
Now, the United States wants Pakistan to send troops to the Middle East and contain the Taliban.

Every cooperation, Pakistan becomes ashes.

Risk Approaching: The Dangerous Diplomacy of the Enemy

At present, the internal situation in Pakistan is already unstable.
Economic recession, inflation and terrorist attacks occur frequently.

If the conflict in the Middle East or the fighting in Afghanistan continues, the domestic situation will worsen.

There have been recent incidents of xenophobic violence against Afghan refugees in Punjab Province;
The separatist forces of Baku province reactivated.
Again overlapping religious contradictions, the whole country can fall into turmoil at any time.

More importantly, China is also watching this closely.
Hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Now, if Pakistan "moves closer to the west", it will inevitably affect strategic mutual trust.

This is where it gets most dangerous:
Once China's long-term support is lost, the short-term aid of the United States can't fill the vacancy at all.

Munir may be able to extend his term and consolidate military power.
But what the ordinary people have to bear is higher prices, stricter lawsuits, and a more uncertain future.

6. China's attitude: sit on the sidelines and wait quietly for a maneuver

Chinese officials are currently restraining.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only responded lightly: "I hope Pakistan will continue to adhere to an independent foreign policy."

This word means long.

China is well aware of Pakistan's economic difficulties, and it also knows that the bait of the United States will not last long.
Thro history, every time Pakistan "turns back to the United States", it has finally had to return to the track of China-Pakistan cooperation.

As scholars said in the Global Times commentary:

The essence of geopolitics is reality, not romance.
What Pakistan needs is not short-term dollars, but long-term security and industrial cooperation."

Conclusion: A ¡°double use¡± bet

This "American century handshake" appears to be win-win, and the reality is to calculate each other.

Trump wants to find a "tool man" to maintain stability in the Middle East, and Munir wants to use the US military to support stability.
A map of political capital, a map of military status.

But history has proven it many times:
Whoever is chosen by the United States will eventually pay the price.

For Pakistan, this bet is about the future of the country.
For China, this is just a test to see if old friends can still hold the bottom line.

This game is superficially fun and dangerous.
On the table of geopolitics.
There are never forever friends, only forever bargaining chips.

References:

1. Trump, Munir meet at the White House amid renewed US-Pakistan engagement (22 October 2025)
2. The New York Times: U.S. Firms Eye Pakistan Ports Amid New Bilateral Talks (2025 23 October 2020)
3. Al Jazeera: Pakistan army chief visit signals power shift in Islamabad (2025 21 October 2020)
4. Global Times: "Confidence in the Stable Development of China-Pakistan Relations remains unchanged"(October 24, 2025)
5. BBC Urdu: ¡°Pakistan¡¯s balancing act between China and the U.S.¡±

What do you think?
Is Pakistan "pragmatic diplomacy" or a "game of life"?
Will the United States really fulfill its promise this time, or will it be another ¡°cooperative trap¡±?
Welcome to comment and talk about this game of power and interest.