A hard sell in DC Opinion May 4, 2021 After an extensive policy review, the Biden Administration has begun the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan. Pakistan had hoped that the conclusion of the endgame might alter the principal lens through which the US has viewed the region for the past two decades, and therein its relationship with Pakistan. But, despite a clearly signalled desire by Islamabad for a broadened and diversified Pak-US bilateral relationship, the Biden Administration has yet to respond positively. This has resulted in several notable omissions that have not played out well in Islamabad. Why has the Biden Administration been distinctly reserved regarding Pakistan? There are at least three possible explanations. One: Washington continues to frame Pakistan’s utility in terms of America’s interests in Afghanistan. As the United States prepares to massively wind down operations in Afghanistan, it sees diminishing returns in further investing in its relationship with Pakistan.