As President Trump prepares to host Pakistan’s Army Chief and Prime Minister amid simmering regional tensions—fresh off the heels of the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis that saw missile strikes and airstrikes escalate into a four-day nuclear brinkmanship—the stakes couldn’t be higher.
With Pakistan’s economy teetering on the edge due to rampant corruption and mismanagement, as highlighted by its dismal ranking in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, the US has a golden opportunity to demand accountability.
Trump, known for his no-nonsense diplomacy, should channel that energy into pressing on Pakistan’s chronic issues: human rights atrocities, creeping Chinese dominance, jihadist patronage, speech suppression, and betrayals of American allies.
Here are seven pointed questions that South Asia Press raises which cut to the core—ones that could force real change or expose empty promises.
1. What Immediate Steps Will Pakistan Take to End Enforced Disappearances, a Practice That Has Claimed Thousands of Lives?
Enforced disappearances remain a stain on Pakistan’s human rights record, with Amnesty International documenting 2,332 cases in recent years, often linked to state agencies targeting activists and dissidents in Balochistan. UN experts in April 2025 decried the “unrelenting use” of this tactic as a serious violation, urging swift investigations. Human Rights Watch’s 2025 report further details law enforcement’s role in arbitrary detentions without charge. The US, a major aid provider, must demand a timeline for releasing the disappeared and prosecuting perpetrators—anything less perpetuates impunity.
2. How Will Pakistan Prevent Civilian Casualties in Military Operations, Like the Recent Airstrikes That Killed 30 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Pakistan’s military has a history of operations in civilian-heavy areas causing devastating losses, exemplified by this month’s airstrikes using Chinese J-17 jets that killed 30 civilians while they were sleeping in their homes. Trump should probe for adherence to international humanitarian law, including independent oversight of operations, to avoid turning counterterrorism into a pretext for collateral damage.
3. With CPEC Debt Topping $9.5 Billion, What Safeguards Is Pakistan Implementing Against China’s Debt-Trap Diplomacy?
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has ballooned into a $9.5 billion albatross, with $7.5 billion owed for power plants alone, trapping Pakistan in a cycle of repayments that critics label outright debt-trap tactics. A January 2025 analysis warned of geopolitical strings attached, as Chinese loans exacerbate fiscal woes without yielding promised growth. As a counterweight to Beijing’s influence, the US needs assurances on debt restructuring and diversified partnerships—lest Pakistan become a Sino pawn in South Asia.
4. What Concrete Actions Is the Pakistan Army Taking to Sever Ties with Anti-India Jihadist Groups Like Lashkar-e-Taiba?
Despite denials, evidence mounts of the Pakistan Army’s complicity in nurturing anti-India militants, with a June 2025 MEMRI report exposing links to the United Jihad Council network. The International Crisis Group urged in September 2025 that Islamabad dismantle these support structures to avert war, especially post the Pahalgam attack that sparked the year’s crisis. Trump, a staunch India ally, must extract commitments on asset freezes and prosecutions—ending the double game that fuels regional instability.
5. How Is Pakistan Cracking Down on Hawala Networks Used by Jihadis for Financial Terrorism?
Jihadi outfits in Pakistan rely heavily on informal hawala systems to launder funds for attacks, with a May 2025 media analysis revealing a “complex web” of terror financing sustaining militant groups in Pakistan. NACTA’s own reports admit billions flow unchecked to terrorists, undermining global efforts like Executive Order 13224. The US should demand enhanced FIU monitoring and international cooperation to choke these lifelines, turning words on counterterrorism into deeds.
6. Will Pakistan Finally Reform Its Blasphemy Laws, Which Fuel Violence and Stifle Free Speech?
Blasphemy statutes, hardened under Zia-ul-Haq, are routinely weaponized for extortion and mob justice, with Human Rights Watch reporting in June 2025 their exploitation against minorities for land grabs and profit. A July 2025 UN statement slammed the “widespread impunity” enabling discrimination, calling for outright repeal. As free expression plummets—Pakistan ranks 125th globally in press freedoms—Trump must push for amendments protecting speech without fear of fatwas.
7. Why Is Dr. Shakil Afridi Still Rotting in Solitary Confinement After 14 Years, and When Will He Be Freed?
Dr. Shakil Afridi, the physician who risked everything to help the CIA pinpoint Osama bin Laden in 2011, has endured nearly 14 years in harsh isolation by March 2025, per a State Department report. His son’s plea underscores the betrayal of an American hero, sentenced on trumped-up treason charges. This isn’t just ingratitude—it’s a direct affront to US intelligence partnerships. Trump should make his release non-negotiable.
In a Trump-era reset, these questions aren’t optional niceties; they’re leverage points for a Pakistan that aligns with US interests or faces isolation. With economic rot—fueled by military meddling and graft—pushing the country toward collapse, as February 2025 scandals showed with mass suspensions for embezzlement, the ball’s in Islamabad’s court. Will they dodge, or deliver? The world—and especially the US—watches closely.