Islamabad / New Delhi: Pakistan has sharply reacted to India’s recently concluded trade agreement with the United States, saying it has gained more favourable terms despite Islamabad’s own intense lobbying efforts in Washington.
Under the new deal announced on Feb 2, the US agreed to cut tariffs on Indian exports to 18 per cent, significantly lower than prior rates, while Pakistan continues to face 19 per cent tariffs.
Islamabad had pursued better access to the US market for months, hosting high-profile meetings — including official dinners with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir — and even nominating US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite these efforts, critics say Pakistan did not secure tariff reductions similar to India’s.
Critics in Pakistan — including former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister Hammad Azhar — argued that focusing on optics and personal ties was a mistake. “Foreign policy in the 21st century isn’t about optics or personal relationships… Sycophancy & photo ops are useless,” Azhar wrote on social media platform X.
Economist Javed Hassan similarly noted that India achieved better terms without nominating Trump for a Nobel Prize. He asked rhetorically on X: “Other than the opportunity to apply extra layers of cherry blossom, what has Trump actually given to Pakistan?”
The backlash extended across Pakistani social media, with users sarcastically comparing India’s diplomatic success — achieved through strategic negotiation rather than displays of flattery — to Pakistan’s efforts, reported Hindustan Times.
Opposition leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claim India negotiated the lower tariff by maintaining its “strategic autonomy”. They argue Pakistan ended up with a higher rate only after what they describe as personal outreach by the army chief, HT report states.
Zubair Ahmed Khan, a popular X user from Karachi who is ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)-qualified, said that even after huge efforts, Pakistan failed to match India’s outcome.
He posted on X: “So after all the Appeasement of epic proportions by this Imposed Regime to Trump even accepting forces for Israel peace board, Pak ended up with 19% US tarriffs while India have now 18% tarriffs imposed by US. Great Foreign Policy achivements!”
For India, the trade pact is seen as a win for its exporters. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told India’s Parliament that the deal protects core Indian agricultural and dairy interests while broadening access for labour-intensive industries to the US market.
The contrasting outcomes have intensified debate in Pakistan over how the country conducts diplomacy and whether its strategy is effectively aligned with its economic interests.
