India’s newly concluded trade agreement with the United States has triggered a sharp domestic backlash in Pakistan, where political leaders, journalists, and social media commentators have criticized Islamabad’s handling of relations with Washington. The reaction follows the announcement that US tariffs on Indian exports will be set at 18 percent—one percentage point lower than the rate applied to Pakistani goods—despite Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic outreach to the US administration.

The deal has drawn particular attention in Pakistan because it comes after months of high-profile overtures to US President Donald Trump. These included Islamabad nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize and publicly supporting his inclusion on international peace platforms. Critics argue that despite these efforts, Pakistan failed to secure a more favorable trade outcome than India.

In contrast, New Delhi is widely seen as having negotiated firmly and resisted pressure during talks. President Trump highlighted the agreement through a series of social media posts featuring India Gate and a magazine cover showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside him before confirming the reduced tariff rate for Indian goods. The optics of the announcement quickly became a focal point of debate across the border.

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Pakistani opposition figures framed the outcome as a strategic failure rather than bad timing. Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister Hammad Azhar said modern foreign policy depends on economic leverage rather than personal diplomacy, pointing to India’s recent trade agreements with both the US and the European Union as evidence of a stronger negotiating position.

Journalists and commentators also warned of broader implications for Pakistan’s already fragile economy. Analyst Asad Toor linked the tariff decision to declining exports, weak foreign investment, and shrinking bargaining power. Others argued that reliance on personal engagement over institutional strength had left Pakistan at a disadvantage.

India’s back-to-back trade agreements with major economies are expected to provide a significant boost to exports, with estimates suggesting gains of up to $150 billion over the next decade. In Pakistan, however, the India-US deal has intensified debate over foreign policy priorities, economic strategy, and the limits of diplomatic symbolism in securing tangible trade benefits.

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