Persistent concerns in Washington over Pakistan's credibility as a long-term investment destination and diplomatic partner have been highlighted in a report published on Saturday, 9 May 2025, even as Islamabad has gained temporary geopolitical relevance. The assessment, carried by the American magazine The National Interest, underscores a widening gap between Pakistan's short-term utility and its structural standing in US policy circles.

US Senators Voice Doubts on Pakistan's Reliability

Senator Ted Cruz, a close ally of US President Donald Trump and a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, acknowledged Pakistan's complicated status in American foreign policy. "I've long described Pakistan as a problematic ally. They are an ally, but there are challenges we struggle with," Cruz was quoted as saying by The National Interest. Cruz also noted Pakistan's facilitative role in Iran-US diplomacy, adding that "President Trump has thanked the Pakistani leadership for their engagement."

Senator Cory Booker, also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised parallel concerns rooted in Pakistan's track record on terrorism. "There are a lot of things that raise my attention — that before trusting them, we should verify," Booker said.

Balochistan Insurgency Reinforces Investor Scepticism

The report highlighted that Balochistan, Pakistan's mineral-rich western province, remains mired in insurgency, with militant groups regularly targeting infrastructure and foreign-backed projects. This fragile security environment, the report noted, "reinforces skepticism" among US investors and policymakers considering long-term commitments in the country. In an administration driven largely by transactional ties, this gap further casts doubt over the durability of Pakistan's diplomatic engagement with Washington.

Pakistan's Terror Links Under Congressional Scrutiny

Last month, on the first anniversary of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack — in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 tourists after identifying their religion — US Congressman Brad Sherman accused Pakistan of continuing to shelter terrorist organisations. Speaking at an event organised by the Indian Embassy in Washington at Capitol Hill, Sherman alleged that groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) continue to operate from safe havens inside Pakistan.

"As the world focuses on Islamabad, where the [Iran] talks are taking place, or not taking place, or might be taking place, we have to use this as an opportunity to demand that the Pakistani government clamp down on the LeT and the JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammed]," Sherman stated. His remarks reinforced the view that Pakistan's recent diplomatic moments have done little to improve its standing on Capitol Hill.

Engagement Seen as Conditional, Not Structural

The National Interest report concluded that the prevailing view in Washington is that engagement with Pakistan is "conditional and episodic rather than evidence of structural trust." This pattern of conditional engagement has persisted across multiple US administrations, with Pakistan oscillating between strategic asset and liability depending on regional priorities. The report noted that Pakistan's effort to mediate between Iran and the United States has not translated into a shift in the fundamental scepticism among US lawmakers toward treating Islamabad as a credible long-term ally. As Iran-US diplomacy continues to unfold, the structural questions about Pakistan's reliability are unlikely to be resolved by a single diplomatic gesture.