India Shouldn’t Worry About Warming US-Pakistan Relations
The article argues that India should not be concerned by recent signs of renewed US-Pakistan engagement, despite cooling India-US ties. While Pakistan’s strategic assets remain attractive to external powers, India’s deeper, more diversified partnership with the US—rooted in security, technology, trade, and shared interests—provides a stronger foundation. The piece advises India to focus on economic growth, technological advancement, and avoiding domestic-driven hyphenation with Pakistan.
The article examines the recent warming of US-Pakistan relations, marked by multiple visits by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff to Washington, and contrasts this with the current challenges in India-US ties following US tariff penalties on Indian oil imports from Russia. While acknowledging Pakistan’s enduring strategic value due to its geography, nuclear capability, and population, the editorial stresses that US-Pakistan relations have historically been transactional, unlike the multifaceted, strategic partnership between the US and India. Key areas of India-US cooperation include security, technology, energy, and trade, along with shared interests in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. The article highlights comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed the distinct and important character of US-India ties despite Washington’s engagement with Islamabad. India’s significantly larger economy and growing global stature further reduce the risk of renewed hyphenation with Pakistan. The article advises against India overreacting to US-Pakistan diplomatic moves and argues that the country should instead prioritize deepening its own partnership with the US, strengthening ties with other global players, and accelerating domestic reforms. The piece concludes that India’s best strategy is to focus on outpacing Pakistan in power and capability, rather than being distracted by fluctuations in US-Pakistan relations.
