Pakistan and Afghanistan flags together relations textile cloth, fabric texture
As the United States reshapes its Eurasian strategy post-Afghanistan withdrawal, the role of Pakistan becomes increasingly relevant—not merely as a security partner but as a strategic conduit for connectivity, commerce, and stability. Pakistan’s geographical location, situated at the crossroads of South, Central, and West Asia, offers the United States a practical and politically viable gateway to Afghanistan and the mineral-rich, energy-laden Central Asian Republics (CARs). Amid growing Sino-Russian influence in the region, leveraging Pakistan’s connectivity infrastructure presents the United States with a corridor of opportunity.
For decades, Pakistan’s relationship with the United States was largely framed through the lens of counterterrorism and regional security. However, in the emerging multipolar world order, the value of Pakistan lies not only in its defense cooperation but also in its potential as an economic bridge. The focus is shifting from security-first partnerships to connectivity-first engagement, where trade, infrastructure, and regional integration form the core of strategic cooperation.
The $482.75 million Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC)—jointly funded by Pakistan and the World Bank—exemplifies this shift. Stretching from Peshawar to Torkham and onward into Afghanistan, KPEC links Pakistan’s seaports with the broader CAREC 5 and 6 corridors, creating a direct land route into Central Asia. This project is not just about roads; it is about unlocking trade, creating jobs (over 100,000 projected), and enhancing regional accessibility for both private and humanitarian actors.
For the United States, post-2021 engagement in the region has been hindered by limited access. The northern routes through Central Asia into Afghanistan are logistically complex and politically sensitive, given Russian influence. Similarly, overland access through Iran is geopolitically unfeasible. This leaves Pakistan as the only viable and relatively secure land bridge for American commerce, development aid, and even limited security-related engagements.
By investing in Pakistan’s transit and border infrastructure, the US can mitigate its current regional limitations while reducing its strategic overdependence on adversarial corridors. Ports like Gwadar and Port Qasim, connected through KPEC and other highways, can serve as alternative access points for American exports and humanitarian operations into Afghanistan and beyond. These ports also connect with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, providing the US a way to engage without directly confronting Chinese infrastructure—a complementary rather than competitive approach.
The potential for American private sector investment in Pakistan’s corridor infrastructure is vast. US logistics firms, technology companies, and supply chain innovators can help modernize Pakistan’s customs systems, digitize border management, and establish warehousing and freight hubs. These investments not only benefit the American economy but also enhance trade reliability and transparency across the region.
In the long term, such investments would provide the US with deeper influence in the economic stabilization of Afghanistan. A functioning trade route through Pakistan is essential for stimulating Afghanistan’s battered economy, reducing its reliance on illicit trade, and integrating it into regional markets. The flow of legitimate commerce—from textiles to rare earth minerals—can displace informal networks and encourage political normalization. Moreover, Pakistan’s role in transnational energy projects like TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) and CASA-1000 (Central Asia South Asia power project) positions it as the linchpin of energy diplomacy. Both projects were originally supported by the US and the World Bank, and they retain potential to diversify energy supply routes and diminish Chinese or Russian monopolies over regional energy distribution.
The Biden administration’s foreign policy mantra of “foreign policy for the middle class” aligns well with corridor-based strategies that generate employment, regional stability, and mutual prosperity. Connectivity brings predictability, and predictability breeds peace. By supporting Pakistan’s transit infrastructure, the United States contributes to the long-term stabilization of one of the most volatile regions in the world—benefiting not just American strategic interests, but also those of regional players including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Furthermore, engaging Pakistan on economic terms allows Washington to sidestep the fatigue and resentment associated with security-centric aid and drone diplomacy of the past. A more balanced, mutually beneficial approach could reset bilateral relations and revive the strategic trust eroded over the past two decades.
The United States stands at a geopolitical juncture. Its traditional routes of influence in Central Asia are narrowing, while rivals like China and Russia continue to expand theirs. In this scenario, Pakistan emerges as a vital partner not just in managing threats, but in building bridges—literally and figuratively. From facilitating trade with Afghanistan to enabling energy integration with CARs, Pakistan provides the overland solution the US urgently needs. A strategic shift from military bases to economic corridors can reassert US presence in the region—more sustainably, more acceptably, and with broader international support.
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