US Ties With Pakistan Will Not Come at New Delhi's Expense

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured India that Washington’s relationship with Pakistan will not undermine its strategic partnership with New Delhi. His remarks came during an official visit to India amid questions about the Trump administration’s growing engagement with Islamabad. In an interview with The Indian Express, Rubio was asked whether the United States could return to the approach adopted during the 1970s, when President Richard Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger were widely viewed as favouring Pakistan in regional affairs. Rubio rejected the comparison, arguing that the international situation has changed significantly since the Cold War. He stressed that Washington does not view its relationship with Pakistan or any other country as coming at the expense of its ties with India.

US Explains its Continued Engagement with Pakistan

Rubio acknowledged that Pakistan remains an important country for the United States and suggested that maintaining communication with Islamabad could help prevent regional tensions from escalating. He argued that Washington’s diplomatic engagement could provide an opportunity to discourage actions that concern India. His comments indicate that the United States intends to maintain relations with Pakistan while continuing to develop its strategic partnership with New Delhi.

India-US Cooperation Remains a Priority

During his visit, Rubio met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai. Their discussions covered bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people relations. Rubio also indicated that India and the United States were close to finalising a trade agreement, with only a limited number of issues remaining unresolved. He was scheduled to travel to Jamnagar for discussions focused on expanding energy cooperation.

Strategic Implications for South Asia

Rubio’s statements seek to reassure New Delhi that Washington’s engagement with Islamabad will not weaken the India-US partnership. At the same time, his comments reflect the US position that maintaining diplomatic channels with Pakistan could provide leverage to discourage actions that risk regional instability.

For India, the significance of these assurances will ultimately depend on how Washington translates its statements into concrete policies on security, counterterrorism, defence cooperation and regional diplomacy.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.