PAK–US RELATIONS AND US–CHINA STRATEGIC COMPETITION IN SOUTH ASIA: A POLICY ANALYSIS

Abstract

The evolution of Pak–US relations and the intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China in South Asia represent defining features of contemporary geopolitics. Pakistan’s foreign policy has historically oscillated between strategic alliances, security imperatives, and economic vulnerabilities. Over the decades, Islamabad’s alignment with Washington was shaped by Cold War dynamics, the Afghan jihad, counterterrorism operations, and nuclear politics. In contrast, Pakistan’s partnership with China evolved into a multi-dimensional strategic relationship grounded in defense cooperation, economic connectivity, and geopolitical alignment. The launch of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has further deepened Sino-Pak relations, placing Pakistan at the center of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative. As US–China rivalry intensifies, the Indo-Pacific Strategy has driven Washington closer to India, reshaping regional power balances. This triangular dynamic places Pakistan in a strategic dilemma: balancing ties with China while maintaining a functional relationship with the United States