US Midterm Results Create Anxiety for Leaders in Islamabad

Political Shifts in Washington

A recent Democratic win in the United States Congress has created deep concern for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad. For the past two years, these leaders worked hard to build a close link with US President Donald Trump. Now, they face serious questions about that access and about several business deals tied to Trump's family and allies. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens in cities like Karachi view the vote quite differently, hoping the change in Washington will help bring peace and lower prices.

Economic Pressures and Deals

High oil prices, driven up by the US-Israel war on Iran, weigh heavily on most homes in Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million people that relies heavily on imports. While Islamabad joined Trump's Board of Peace and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, economic returns have stayed limited. The US Export-Import Bank approved $1.25 billion in December 2025 for the Reko Diq copper and gold project, but a separate request for a $10-billion US Treasury facility remains unanswered. Political risk for Islamabad also stems from arrangements connected to Trump's family and associates, including a stablecoin exploration agreement with World Liberty Financial, a Manhattan Roosevelt Hotel redevelopment deal negotiated by US envoy Steve Witkoff, and a drone order placed with Powerus, a firm backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Context

US midterm elections traditionally serve as a referendum on the sitting president, often shifting control of Congress and altering the legislative and oversight power of the executive branch. Foreign governments frequently try to build personal ties with a sitting US president, but shifts in domestic American politics can quickly complicate those relationships. Analysts note that while Pakistan's counter-terrorism work and Iran diplomacy enjoy broad support, putting extensive diplomatic effort into a single administration carries clear risks when power in Washington shifts.