“You Can’t Buy Respect” Pakistan faces backlash after India US trade deal
Despite courting Donald Trump, Pakistan faces higher tariffs than India after US trade deal, sparking strong domestic backlash
India’s new trade deal with the United States has sparked strong anger inside Pakistan. Many there say months of loud outreach to Washington brought almost nothing in return.
The deal was announced on February 2. It sets US tariffs on Indian exports at 18 per cent. Pakistan, however, now faces a higher rate of 19 per cent. The small gap has caused a big reaction across the border.
Critics in Pakistan point to the effort their leaders made to please US President Donald Trump. Islamabad even nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. It also backed his name for the Board of Peace. Many now say these moves look embarrassing.
India, by contrast, is seen as standing firm. New Delhi did not rush to flatter Trump. It held its position for months and pushed its case quietly. In the end, it walked away with a better deal.
Trump added fuel to the debate himself. On social media, he shared pictures of India Gate. He also posted a magazine cover showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi next to him. Soon after, the tariff cut for India was revealed.
These images spread quickly in Pakistan. Many users asked how India got a better deal without what they called excessive praise of Trump. The mood online turned bitter and mocking.
One post went viral for its harsh tone. X user Umar Ali compared Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir to a discarded lover. His post included an AI image showing Munir holding a box of rare minerals. Next to it was the India Today cover with Modi and Trump. The post mixed anger with dark humor and struck a nerve.
Former Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf minister Hammad Azhar took a sharper line. He said the failure was not bad luck but bad planning. “Foreign policy today is not about smiles and photos,” he wrote.
Many in Pakistan agree with this view. They say India negotiated from a place of confidence. Pakistan, they argue, relied too much on personal ties and promises.
Critics say they lobbied for months. Yet the result still favored India.
The opposition has seized the moment. PTI leaders say India acted with strategic freedom. Pakistan, they claim, looked needy and weak. They argue that such an approach rarely earns respect.
Journalist Asad Toor warned the tariff issue adds to deeper problems. He pointed to falling exports and low foreign investment. He said Pakistan’s ability to bargain has almost vanished.
“You can give away Balochistan’s minerals in wooden boxes,” he said. “But you cannot buy respect.”
Digital creator Wajahat Khan used a simple image to explain the gap. He said Trump saw India as a partner. He saw Pakistan as a shopkeeper. “Partners get better deals,” he wrote.
In India, the mood is very different. The US deal follows another major agreement with the European Union. Together, the two deals are expected to lift exports by up to 150 billion dollars over ten years. Many see this as a turning point for the economy.
For Pakistan, the moment has become a mirror. It reflects hard questions about policy, power, and pride. The message many Pakistanis now repeat is simple. Respect cannot be begged for. It has to be earned.