As I said, the US is not a monolithic, and the Trump is no longer president. If he had been, he would have still been more receptive to IK’s approach, IMHO. Remember it was trump that said why was the US in Afghanistan, … Pakistan should be dealing with the problem (by which I don’t think he meant fighting but defending the border). A shrewd observation that we would have hoped the careerists in the US would have understood.
But now we are with a democrat president and the bureaucratic career think tankers. They also need a narrative for why IK and Pakistan should be let in “from the cold”. He needs an off ramp as much as they also need an off ramp in Pakistani public opinion, as well as Muslim public opinion surrounding the push for democracy the last 20 years.
A “friendly” Pakistan would be important for them in the Cold War with China, border of Iran, and close enough neighbor to Russia/Central Asia/Afghanistan, and well as a country that can synergie India‘s growth for US investors. If IK can find that balance, of the needs of his people and US interests, it would be vindication for the democracy over autocracy model, as Pakistan is soon to become the largest Muslim majority country, 4th largest by population globally and a democracy. Bajwa said he wants Pakistan to have the same relationship with the US as South Korea, but South Korea is a democracy, one with its flaws but still supported by the U.S.