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US Lawmakers: India, Not Pakistan, is America's Long-Term Strategic Partner

Senior US lawmakers have explicitly distinguished India from Pakistan in Washington's strategic planning, labeling India as America's indispensable long-term partner. They emphasized that periodic diplomatic engagement with Pakistan should not be mistaken for a strategic alignment, noting that massive American investments flow to India, not Pakistan. The lawmakers stated that India has been a cornerstone of the US Indo-Pacific strategy consistently across multiple presidential administrations. They highlighted shared values and economic vision as the foundation of the US-India partnership, which is crucial for global stability.

Key Points: US Lawmakers Call India Key Strategic Partner, Not Pakistan

  • Clear US strategic distinction between India and Pakistan
  • India central to US Indo-Pacific strategy across administrations
  • Economic and investment realities heavily favor India
  • Partnership based on shared democratic values and economic vision
2 min read

India, not Pakistan, is US long-term strategic partner: Lawmakers

Senior US lawmakers clarify Washington's strategic calculus, emphasizing India as the indispensable long-term partner in the Indo-Pacific, distinct from Pakistan.

"There is no more important friend... for the entire stability of the world, than India. - Representative Rich McCormick"

Washington, Jan 13

Senior US lawmakers sought to draw a clear distinction between India and Pakistan in Washington's strategic calculus, stressing that India - not Pakistan - remains America's long-term partner in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Speaking at a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Representative Ami Bera said periodic diplomatic engagement with Pakistan should not be confused with strategic alignment.

"We're not creating a strategic partnership with Pakistan," Bera said, pushing back against perceptions created by recent political rhetoric.

He acknowledged that comments by US leaders can sometimes generate friction in New Delhi. "The president made some comments about Pakistan, had invited Pakistani leaders into the Oval Office," Bera said, describing the diplomatic context during a recent visit to India.

However, Bera emphasised that economic and strategic realities clearly favor India. "You don't see American companies making multibillion-dollar investments in Pakistan. That's all happening in India," he said.

Representative Rich McCormick echoed that assessment, describing India as indispensable to regional and global stability. "There is no more important friend that we're going to need for the future of not just the United States and India, but for the entire stability of the world, than India," he said.

The lawmakers said Pakistan does not feature in Washington's long-term Indo-Pacific strategy, which is increasingly centered on democratic partners and economic integration. Bera noted that India has been central to US strategy across multiple administrations. "If you go back to the Clinton administration, through the Bush administration, through Obama, to Trump 1.0, to Biden, India's been very key to our whole Indo-Pacific strategy," he said.

Bera also contrasted investor confidence in India with the absence of similar momentum in Pakistan. "We're playing the long game," he said, adding that business communities understand the direction of US engagement.

McCormick said India's alignment with US values sets it apart. "The commonality we have in the way we look at economics and freedom and advancement of a people," he said, describing the foundation of the partnership.

While acknowledging that India pursues an independent foreign policy, McCormick said Washington understands New Delhi's domestic priorities. "He's doing it for the best interest of his country," McCormick said, referring to Indian decision-making on energy and economic growth.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally, some clarity from US lawmakers! The "all-weather friendship" between some US administrations and Pakistan has often confused the public here. India's market, demography, and shared democratic values make it an irreversible strategic choice. Hope this translates into consistent policy, not just statements.
R
Rohit P
Good to hear, but actions speak louder than words. We've seen the US praise India while still providing military aid to Pakistan in the past. The "long game" Bera mentions must mean ending all forms of material support that could be used against India. The economic argument is strongest - look at the FDI numbers.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked in both countries, this is simply a reflection of ground reality. The business environment, rule of law, and growth trajectory in India are on a completely different plane. Pakistan's internal instability makes it a periodic diplomatic concern, not a strategic investment destination.
V
Vikram M
While I appreciate the sentiment, India must remain cautious. Our foreign policy should always be independent and in our national interest first. We are not a "friend" to be needed, but a partner of mutual respect. The US understanding our priorities on energy (like buying Russian oil) is a good sign of mature ties.
K
Karthik V
The contrast couldn't be clearer. One nation is building semiconductor plants and launching moon missions, the other is struggling with basic governance. This partnership is about the future, not the past. Hope our government leverages this position to get better tech transfers and market access for our startups.

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