India, Not Pakistan, Is America’s Long-Term Strategic Partner: US Lawmakers
US outreach to Pakistan should not be seen as a policy shift, lawmakers say, stressing India’s central role in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
America, Jan 13 : Senior American lawmakers have reaffirmed that India not Pakistan remains at the core of the United States’ long-term strategic vision, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, dismissing suggestions that recent US engagement with Islamabad signals a change in priorities.
Speaking in Washington, the lawmakers said India continues to be Washington’s key strategic partner across administrations, sectors, and geopolitical frameworks.
US outreach to Pakistan is not a strategic shift
At a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Congressman Ami Bera addressed concerns in New Delhi following recent political signals from Washington.
“We’re not creating a strategic partnership with Pakistan,” Bera said, pushing back against interpretations of recent diplomatic engagements.
He acknowledged that comments from US leaders can sometimes raise questions in India. Referring to a recent phase of diplomacy, Bera noted that the US President had made remarks about Pakistan and hosted Pakistani leaders at the White House.
However, he stressed that such interactions should be viewed in context and do not reflect a shift in America’s long-term alignment.
Why Washington sees India as central to its global strategy
Bera pointed to economic realities as clear evidence of where US priorities lie.
“You don’t see American companies making multibillion-dollar investments in Pakistan. That’s all happening in India,” he said, adding that Washington is focused on long-term strategic outcomes.
Congressman Rich McCormick echoed the sentiment, describing India as indispensable to future global stability.
“There is no more important friend that we’re going to need for the future not just for the United States and India, but for the stability of the world than India,” McCormick said.
The lawmakers said Pakistan does not figure prominently in Washington’s long term Indo-Pacific framework, which increasingly emphasises democratic partnerships, economic integration, and shared values.
Bera noted that India’s strategic importance has remained consistent across multiple US administrations.
“If you go back to the Clinton administration, through Bush, Obama, Trump 1.0, and Biden, India has been very key to our Indo-Pacific strategy,” he said.
McCormick also highlighted shared democratic values as the foundation of the partnership, citing common approaches to economics, freedom, and societal advancement.
While acknowledging India’s independent foreign policy decisions, McCormick said Washington understands New Delhi’s domestic imperatives.
“He’s doing it for the best interest of his country,” he said, referring to India’s approach to energy security and economic growth.
