Friend or Foe? US Overtures to Pakistan Raise Doubts in India
The resumption in high-level contact between Pakistan and the US after a gap of nearly four years have raised concerns about America's reliability as a strategic partner in India.
SputnikIn a letter written by US President Joe Biden to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this month, the American leader stated that the "enduring partnership between our nations remains critical to ensuring the security of our people".
Reciprocating to Biden's letter, Sharif told him that
Islamabad would continue to work with Washington DC “on the shared targets of international peace and regional security”.
At the same time, the US looks to expand
AUKUS coalition by extending an invitation to Japan to join the "Pillar" II of the military pact, which entails cooperation in areas such as hypersonic missiles and artificial intelligence (AI), according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Sputnik India spoke to ex-Indian Army and naval officials to understand how America's perceptible shift in strategy affects India.
The U.S. Doesn't Want India to Take 'Centre Stage'
The Indian establishment has definitely taken note of the America's evolving policy towards Pakistan, Commodore (retired) Seshadri Vasan, the Director General of Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S) and the Regional Director of National Maritime Foundation (NMF), told Sputnik India.
"There seems to be an effort on part of the Biden administration to not allow India to take the centre stage, given that the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all but certain in the upcoming election," stated Vasan.
"An India focused on achieving ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing doesn't align with the interests of the US military-industrial complex, which heavily relies on wars and geopolitical tensions to sell arms and weapons," the think-tanker explained.
He highlighted that America's 'National Security Strategy' has focused its efforts on containing China, but Washington has realised the importance of keeping options open vis-a-vis India as well.
"So, the US is resorting to its old ways of cultivating countries inimical to Indian interests, which at present include Pakistan and China. While US-led efforts to contain China in full swing, that leaves the western allies with only Pakistan as a tool to contain India", Vasan said.
The Navy veteran noted that New Delhi would have to respond to the changing dynamics in the region.
He recalled that India-Russia defence cooperation had started to strengthen during the Cold War because of West's flawed policy of arming Pakistan, while overlooking India's security concerns.
"Do the new realities mean going back to our Cold War era strategy and looking at alternative security arrangements? Only time will tell. But India has been clear that we will continue to exercise strategic autonomy in foreign relations, not be part of any geopolitical camp and act in our national interest", Vasan offered.
'India Still Needs US for Advanced Technologies'
Vasan said despite friction in India-US ties due to Biden administration's perceived interference in India's electoral and judicial matters as well as its outreach to Pakistan, it would be wrong to state that Americans would "abandon their ties" with India.
"We are looking at the US for transfer of technologies in some of the crucial domains, be it in the realm of defence, semi-conductors or even Electric Vehicles (EVs). More than geopolitical factors, cooperation in civilian areas should be driven by commercial interests," he said.
"We don't have to be unduly concerned, but given the developments, we should counter any efforts which seek to undermine Indian national interest", added Vasan.
'US Curtailing India's Influence in Global South': Army Veteran
The US has clearly been focused on "containing India’s economic progress to curtail its influence in the Global South," Brigadier (retired) V Mahalingam, a geopolitical expert and an ex-commander at India's elite counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG), told Sputnik India.
"India has not been cooperating with US by becoming a US proxy in its China containment strategy in the Indo-Pacific. India under Modi has struck to its strategy of strategic autonomy," stated Mahalingam.
Commenting on Yellen's China visit, Mahalingam stressed that the US strategy to "delink" from China seemed to have fallen flat.
Explaining the renewed coziness between US and Pakistan, Mahalingam said that Islamabad's "strategic location" suited American geopolitical interests and intents.
"At one time, the US was looking for bases in Pakistan to be able to operate in Afghanistan with a view to contain China. That did not materialise. With potential US bases in Pakistan, US would be able to contain China and cause disruptions in the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in which China has invested over USD 66 billion," Mahalingam explained.
US presence in Pakistan will also help US contain Iran. At the same time, a close relationship with US suits Pakistan that has inherited serious economic issues," he concluded.