After remaining largely stagnant throughout the Biden administration, Pakistan–U.S. relations appear to be experiencing a cautious thaw. However, any hope of a return to the close strategic alignment once seen during the peak of cooperation over Afghanistan still seems remote. A recent phone call between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with plans to send a high-level Pakistani delegation to Washington to discuss trade relations—including the pressing issue of a newly imposed 29% tariff—has injected some momentum into a relationship long in limbo. The visit of a U.S. congressional delegation, described as “highly successful and productive,” marks a notable high point in bilateral ties that have been largely dormant in recent years.

The growing seniority of the officials engaging in dialogue with Pakistan signals slow but steady progress. Yet, while the Pakistani government may take heart in these positive developments, the nature of the relationship remains firmly rooted in transactional logic. Both the congressional delegation and Secretary Rubio’s earlier visit reaffirmed that the U.S. does not currently view Pakistan as a strategic ally in the traditional sense. Rather, cooperation will be shaped by specific economic interests—chief among them, access to Pakistan’s mineral wealth. This resource-focused approach was made explicit once again, with particular emphasis on Pakistan’s mining sector and its relevance to the U.S., which is increasingly locked in a global trade competition, especially with China.

Pakistan will no doubt welcome investment in its mining and mineral sectors, especially as it seeks to make them a cornerstone of its own economic revival. But any expectations of a broader geopolitical reset or an elevated strategic partnership with the United States should be tempered. For now, this is a relationship of mutual convenience—limited, pragmatic, and unlikely to evolve far beyond its current form.