Op-ed: Pakistan’s has concerns over the growing strategic ties of US India

In the post-cold war era, the USA emerged as a superpower and dominated international affairs. After almost two decades the economic rise of China challenges the US global dominance. The USA is worried about China’s economic and strategic ambitions. In this regard, the region of Asia Pacific has got tremendous importance as the USA and China have kept close eyes on it. Major economic and military activities of China occur in the region of the Asia Pacific and the South China Sea, therefore the US tends to contain China’s activities in this region as well. 

In this regard, the US views India as a rising power to contain China. The US has made a strategic alliance with India in the region and both states have conducted a series of high-level agreements in this regard. For instance, the Logistic exchange memorandum of agreements LEMOA2016, Communication compatibility and Security agreement 2018, Basic exchange and cooperation agreement (BECA), and the latest defense agreement 2020 are some high profile strategic and military agreements between the USA and India for countering the increased influence of China in the region. 

In this regard, Pakistan will be obviously eying towards China to maintain a balance of power as both or already engaged in several economic and political sectors. 

Using neighbors against neighbors

Moreover, the USA has also increased its military and economic activities in the South China Sea, one of the main economic hubs, so that to counter China’s economic and geo-strategic interests in the region. In addition to this, the US is militarily engaged with India in the Indian Ocean as well to further their interests against China. The military support of both can be found side by side in Asia pacific to pursue the collective interests in the response to China’s military influence. The US along with other options, using India’s factor to counter china’s investment, diplomacy, economic affairs, and long-term strategic intentions in the region of Asia Pacific. 

The increased US and India strategic partnership have a direct influence on the region especially on South Asia in a number of ways. For instance, due to a strong military and geostrategic relationship between the two states, the balance of power and element of deterrence will be greatly disturbed in south Asia.

Pakistan and India are the two major powers in South Asia, and both have intense rivalry from the very beginning. Both have fought several wars against one another and recently they are experiencing poor diplomatic relations and there is a constant deadlock between the two states. The Indian unilateral aggressive actions regarding Kashmir and line of control has annoyed Pakistan. In such circumstances, empowering India with technological and military capabilities is directly proportional to unrest in Pakistan’s authorities. 

Read more: Op-ed: Pakistan, China, Iran must come together to counter US-India alliance

Pakistan is in close ties with the United States of America for decades. Both not only enjoyed closed partnership during the cold war when Pakistan provided its ground to the US for furthering its interests and also helped the US in stopping Soviet Union military influence in Afghanistan. Similarly, after the attacks of 9/11, Pakistan again supported the US in the war on terror and fought the war as a front-line ally.

Despite the fact of being allies in the war on terror, Pakistan has genuine concerns over the increased cooperation between the US and India in military and political-economic sectors. Pakistan mostly shapes its military strategies by keeping India’s military capabilities in mind to make sure a balance of power in the region, but the recent promises of cooperation between the US and India will definitely have a different effect on Pakistan’s military strategies. In this regard, Pakistan will be obviously eying towards China to maintain a balance of power as both or already engaged in several economic and political sectors. 

The writer is doing his masters in international relations, and has a wide experience in writings for national and international newspapers. He can be contacted on barkatullahbarakaat@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.