US POLICY ON PAKISTAN AND IMPLICATIONS FOR KASHMIR DISPUTES

U.S. Pakistan relations have long been shaped by shifting strategic priorities from Cold War alliances to the war on terror and now to competition with China and regional stability in South Asia. Washington’s interests in the region revolve around counter terrorism cooperation, nuclear security, trade and maintaining balance among regional powers primarily India, Pakistan and China.  In recent years, the USA has expanded economic and diplomatic engagement with Pakistan including trade agreements on energy development and tariff reductions designed to bolster bilateral ties and investment flows. These moves reflect continued U.S. interest in Pakistan as a partner, even as Islamabad’s geopolitical importance has been overshadowed by U.S. relations with India and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, the Kashmir dispute a core issue betn India and Pakistan remains a sensitive area in which the U.S. officially maintains caution, seeking to balance ties with both nuclear-armed states while avoiding overt intervention.

Historically, the United States has viewed Kashmir as a bilateral issue to be resolved by India and Pakistan themselves. Senior U.S. officials have reiterated that Washington does not intend to impose solutions but  stands ready to support dialogue and de-escalation if both sides agree. This policy aligns with India’s position reinforced in agreements like the  1972 Shimla Agreement that Kashmir must be resolved bilaterally without third-party mediation.

According to senior U.S. officials, Washington  sees Kashmir as a “direct issue” betn India and Pakistan and does not intend to assert itself unilaterally in the dispute. At the same time, U.S. diplomats have signaled willingness to mediate if both parties request it and have highlighted their role in arranging ceasefire agreements during escalations. During periods of heightened tension such as “OP SINDOOR'' in 2025. U.S. diplomatic leadership emphasised that India and Pakistan should refrain from escalation.  This nuanced stance reflects a dual approach: avoid direct intervention unless mutually requested, while   encouraging peaceful resolution and stability.

The U.S. Pakistan relationship has diversified beyond military and security cooperation to include trade, energy development, and investment partnerships, signifying deeper economic engagement. Pakistan has welcomed this outreach, seeing U.S. involvement in Kashmir dialogue not only as a peace building opportunity but also as a diplomatic avenue to stabilise ties with India and attract foreign investment.

U.S. engagement, even if   limited, has helped de-escalate specific bouts of violence and opened channels        for diplomatic communication in recent crises between India and Pakistan. External pressure from a major power such as the United States can prompt both sides to             consider dialogue over confrontation, particularly when risks of wider conflict including nuclear escalation are significant.

 Despite these efforts, there are    significant structural limits to what U.S. diplomacy can accomplish in Kashmir: The dispute is deeply rooted in historical territorial, religious and national identities, making negotiated settlements complex and protracted. India steadfastly rejects third-party mediation, insisting on bilateral negotiations.

Pakistan, although more open to external mediation, still places heavy emphasis on UNSC resolutions and international law. Thus, while the U.S. can encourage restraint and support peace processes, its ability to shape final outcomes in Kashmir is limited without  mutual conset from India and Pakistan.

The U.S. India partnership has      grown significantly, driven by shared concerns about China and expanding     economic ties. This closeness influences U.S. policy toward Pakistan and Kashmir, pushing Washington to be sensitive to Indian strategic priorities while still engaging Islamabad. Pakistan views the Kashmir dispute as central to its national identity & regional security.

From Islamabad’s perspective, U.S. support even if limited offers diplomatic leverage and potential pathways to peace. However, divergent views between New Delhi and Islamabad about the nature and ownership of the issue mean that the U.S. must tread carefully to remain credible to both sides.

The United States’ policy on Pakistan and the Kashmir dispute remains pragmatic, cautious and calibrated: - Encouraging de-escalation while avoiding heavy intervention unless both parties request mediation. Strengthening ties with India without completely alienating Pakistan. Providing diplomatic support that can mitigate crises, but with limited capacity to resolve the core territorial and political conflict alone.  Ultimately, the U.S. acts as a facilitator rather than an arbitrator a reflection of both South Asian sensitivities and broader American foreign policy priorities in a region with complex historical conflicts.