MT Desk: Across the border, the Narendra Modi government’s awkward handling of Trump’s bid to claim credit for ending the May conflict also seems to have irritated the White House. While Islamabad has praised Trump for brokering the ceasefire and offering mediation on other chronic issues like Kashmir, Delhi insisted on bilateralism. As that irritation translates into calculated warmth toward Islamabad, it is a reminder that the US-India rendezvous is not immune to ego and friction.
“For India, any shift in Washington’s tone or favour toward Islamabad raises concern,” said Bashir. “The US appears to be leveraging Pakistan both to remind India of its strategic vulnerabilities and to coax it back into closer alignment with US policy.”
The newfound warmth between Washington and Islamabad comes at a time when US-India strategic convergence — particularly around the Quad and Indo-Pacific security — was assumed to be a settled fact. Trump’s overtures to Pakistan have disrupted this narrative, raising concerns in Delhi that Washington’s commitments are more transactional than strategic.
“India is highly sensitive and closely monitoring the Pakistan-US relationship, particularly any military cooperation,” said Dr Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, former K-P police chief who writes on security and geopolitical issues. “If Washington leans too far toward Islamabad, India could interpret it as undercutting the Quad’s strategic coherence.”
“Right now, the debate within the Indian policy establishment is over whether — and how — India can be brought into a partnership alliance with the United States,” explained Gen Inam. “Efforts are being made to make that happen, but India remains hesitant. In recent years, Trump sought to offer certain concessions to India, but Delhi was not ready to reciprocate.”
Bashir, meanwhile, said, “India’s pivot toward Russia — buying discounted oil and advanced weaponry despite US disapproval — has strained parts of the US-India ties.” He said closer US-Pakistan engagement could serve as a subtle pressure point on Delhi, reminding it that Washington retains strategic options in South Asia.
This assessment seems more conceivable, certainly more after the Trump administration slapped 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the United States — the highest after Brazil — accusing New Delhi of indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing crude oil from Moscow.