A senior adviser to the U.S. administration confirmed that Washington intends to broaden its strategic relationship with Pakistan, while simultaneously assuring India that its ties with Jakarta remain unaffected. The statement comes as the U.S. navigates complex regional dynamics and seeks to strengthen its footprint in South Asia without alienating one of its strongest partners.
According to the adviser, the U.S. aims to engage Pakistan in areas such as defence cooperation, economic development and counter-terrorism efforts. At the same time, he emphasised that these efforts are not meant to detract from the longstanding U.S.–India partnership, which spans technology, security, and the Indo-Pacific strategic agenda.
Indian officials welcomed the assurance but remained cautious. While the promise of continued strategic alignment is positive, they emphasise that India will closely monitor any new commitments to Pakistan that appear to compromise its own security concerns or regional interests.
The balancing act reflects Washington’s intent to broaden its diplomatic portfolio in South Asia—to hedge against regional instability and reinforce its role with multiple partners. For New Delhi, the key question remains how to maintain its autonomous foreign policy while preserving trust in a relationship that both sides say remains foundational.
