Report Warns U.S. Engagement With Pakistan Could Undermine Indo-Pacific Strategy

Islamabad/Beijing — Growing U.S. engagement with Pakistan could undermine Washington’s own interests in the Indo-Pacific, particularly as Islamabad moves closer to China on Taiwan, the South China Sea and Beijing’s broader regional agenda, according to a report.

The report by the Politeia Research Foundation said Pakistan’s support for China’s efforts to achieve reunification with Taiwan, including “by every possible means,” has raised serious concerns.

It said that while U.S. President Donald Trump has praised Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Islamabad has simultaneously aligned itself closely with Beijing and endorsed positions that run counter to U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific.

According to the report, a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after a high-level meeting in Beijing openly supported China’s position on the South China Sea. The report argued that such language effectively legitimizes Beijing’s coercive and expansionist actions in the region.

The development raises concerns not only for Taiwan but also for countries in the Indo-Pacific that support a rules-based international order, freedom of navigation and the regional balance of power, the report said.

“As Washington deepens tactical engagement with Pakistan, Islamabad is simultaneously aligning itself more closely with China on Taiwan, the South China Sea, CPEC, and Beijing’s broader strategic vision. This growing China-Pakistan strategic convergence raises serious questions about America’s Indo-Pacific strategy and its long-term partnership with India,” the report said.

“The whole of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy is based on the principles of maintaining stability in the region, preserving the balance of power, ensuring freedom of navigation, and preventing any forcible change to Taiwan’s status quo,” it added.

The report cited language from the China-Pakistan joint statement in which Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle and described Taiwan as an “inalienable part” of China.

“Pakistan reaffirmed its strong commitment to the one-China principle and holds the view that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China, and the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests,” the statement said, according to the report.

The report said U.S. officials should reassess their approach to Pakistan and consider whether deeper engagement with Islamabad is weakening the interests of India, which Washington has repeatedly described as a key strategic partner.

It also argued that Pakistan’s alignment with China risks weakening U.S. policy goals in the Indo-Pacific by supporting Beijing’s “aggressive actions, belligerent behavior, and ambitions” regarding Taiwan.

The report noted that during his recent visit to India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeatedly referred to the India-U.S. relationship as a “strategic alliance” during talks, joint press briefings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and public remarks.

Those comments were seen as a signal that Washington views India as a long-term strategic partner, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, the report said.

“The US must ensure that it is not shooting itself in the foot by undermining its own interests in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly regarding Taiwan, while at the same time weakening its partnership with India for the sake of Pakistan, whatever the reason may be,” the report said. (Source: IANS)