Trump's Pakistan Playbook: Echoes of Past US Policy

This article discusses the US's history of dealing directly with the Pakistani military, rather than its civilian government.

It notes that this approach, taken by both Obama and Trump administrations, is based on the belief that the army is the true power in Pakistan.

This has led to concerns in India, which views this as the US prioritizing the army over civilian leaders.

The US has historically engaged directly with the Pakistani army, even when it had concerns about Pakistan's civilian government, and sees Rawalpindi, rather than Islamabad, as the key power center.