Pakistanis are reacting angrily on social media after India secured a lower US tariff rate of 18%, while Pakistan remains at 19%, despite Islamabad’s recent efforts to build warmer ties with Washington. Critics in Pakistan argue that India achieved a better outcome through economic leverage and strategic autonomy, while Pakistan’s approach relied too heavily on symbolic gestures, photo ops, and political appeasement.

What Triggered the Backlash?

The immediate trigger is the 1% tariff gap:

India: 18% tariff cap on exports to the US
Pakistan: 19% tariff rate still applies

Even though the difference looks small, the reaction is intense because Pakistan had made several highly visible moves that were seen as pro-Trump.

Why Pakistanis Feel Embarrassed

Many Pakistani commentators feel their government tried hard to please Washington but still got a weaker result.

Examples mentioned in the report include:

High-level engagement in Washington
White House dinners involving Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir
Pakistan nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize
Support for Trump’s inclusion on peace-related boards

Despite all that, Pakistan still did not get a lower tariff than India.

Viral Pakistani Reactions (Key Quotes)

Hammad Azhar (Former PTI Minister)

He said modern foreign policy is not about optics:

“Sycophancy & photo ops are useless.”

He argued India’s trade success comes from:

economic strength
market access leverage
tariff bargaining power

Economist Javed Hassan

He mocked Pakistan’s Nobel nomination move:

“India did not nominate Trump for a Nobel prize, yet still gets better tariff deal than Pakistan.”

Zubair Ahmed Khan (Karachi-based X user)

He claimed Pakistan’s “appeasement” failed:

“Pak ended up with 19% US tariffs while India have now 18%… Great Foreign Policy achievements!”

India’s Advantage, According to the Article

India’s trade deal is presented as:

securing 18% tariffs (down from 50%)
protecting “core sensitivities” in agriculture and dairy
getting zero-duty access for a wide range of products

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal reportedly told Parliament that the deal protects India’s major red lines, especially in politically sensitive sectors.

Trump’s Claim About India (Big Geopolitical Angle)

Trump also claimed on Truth Social:

it was an “honour” to speak with PM Narendra Modi
India agreed to stop buying Russian oil
India agreed to buy $500 billion worth of US energy and technology

That part is especially important because it implies the trade deal may also be linked to:

energy diplomacy
Russia-related sanctions pressure
strategic realignment

Wider Regional Comparison: Others Still Face Higher Tariffs

The article also points out that India’s 18% is comparatively strong.

Other exporters’ US tariffs:

Vietnam: 20%
Bangladesh: 20%
Malaysia: 19%
Cambodia: 19%
Thailand: 19%

So India’s deal is being seen as one of the most favourable among competing Asian exporters.

Final Verdict

Pakistan’s backlash is less about the 1% tariff difference and more about national pride and perceived diplomatic failure. Many Pakistanis believe India secured a better deal without “appeasing” Trump, while Pakistan tried symbolic outreach (including Nobel nomination moves) and still ended up with a worse tariff rate. The episode is now being framed in Pakistan as proof that economic leverage beats optics in modern diplomacy.