The long -standing strategic commitment of the United States in India has not fulfilled, and Washington must now reconsider its policy in southern Asia investing in a balanced association with Pakistan, one that could help stabilize the region and even approach the United States and China, former National Security Advisor of Pakistani Dr Moeed Yusuf.
In the article entitled “Why the United States should bet on Pakistan” published in the prestigious foreign affairs magazine, Dr. Yusuf argues that the United States has read poor regional dynamic by overestimating the strategic value of India and underestimating Pakistan’s ability to act as a balanced power. He urges Washington to correct the course, warning that the excessive dependence of the New Delhi continued at risk of additional instability in an already volatile region.
“The commitment of the United States in India has not been worth it. Instead of becoming a firm partner to counteract China, India has followed an independent foreign policy often divergent,” Yusuf wrote. “Meanwhile, Pakistan, despite his economic and security challenges, remains a critical regional player who could help the United States recalibrate his focus on southern Asia.”
Read too: PM Ordens 300 -day plan to address climate change: Musadik Malik
He pointed out that despite the heavy American investment, from civil nuclear agreements to exemptions in Russian weapons purchases, India continues to resist aligning fully with US interests.
“Washington has courted New Delhi with great economic agreements, defense and technology while insisted that it is in the interests of American national security facilitate the emergence of India as what US officials call a” net security provider “in the widest region of the Indian Ocean,” Yusuf wrote.
Citing India’s neutral position on the invasion of Russia of Ukraine and its growing ties with Moscow and Beijing, Dr. Moeed Yusuf pointed out that the foreign policy of the Modi government is promoted more by a desire for “strategic autonomy” than a clear alignment with the global order led by the United States, a development that warned, should raise concern between the states of the states of the states of states Joined.
“Despite all these efforts, US policy formulators should be alarmed by the results … for example, India took a more or less neutral position on the invasion of Ukraine of Russia in Russia of Ukraine and has participated in the efforts of some non -western countries to move from the negotiation of US dollars. These divergences do not derive from the commitment of the commitment of India to the commitment of India. It is the formation of strategic policies of India to the history of which autonomy is considered in the policy of Fuente Fuente, “they add.
Read: President Zardari will embark on an official 10 -day visit to China
Yusuf, who served as NSA from 2021 to 2022, identifies three defective assumptions that have defined the policy of the United States to the region in the last two decades: the belief that India would rise unconditionally as counterweight to China; that Pakistan would naturally align with Beijing; and that Pakistan, due to his history in Afghanistan, was an unreliable long -term partner.
He argues that these assumptions led Washington to isolate Pakistan and allow the aggressive position of India in the region. This included limiting military cooperation with Pakistan, stopping economic support and allowing India to frame bilateral tensions as internal issues beyond the concern of the United States.
Yusuf said that Washington’s decisions were perfectly aligned with India’s objective to keep Pakistan weak and isolated. This emboldened New Delhi to adopt a more muscular position, increasing military attacks in Pakistani territory and deepening the regional division.
According to Yusuf, the increasingly assertive actions of India, including specific strikes within Pakistan and a growing hostility rhetoric, have only intensified Islamabad’s inclination towards Beijing. Pakistan, he points out, now obtains 80% of his new arms from China, a dramatic change from his dependent army at once Western.
Despite deteriorating ties with the United States in recent years, Yusuf highlights a change in Washington’s position under President Donald Trump, who made proposals to Islamabad’s military leadership and negotiated a high temporary fire between India and Pakistan in 2025.
Read too: 19 ‘militants’ killed in separate operations in KP
This thaw, says Yusuf, reflects a growing realization in Washington that his Indian policy first has limited utility. He argues that Pakistan could be essential to create a regional balance, not only between India and Pakistan, but also in facilitating a more constructive dynamic of the United States-China.
Yusuf wrote that Pakistan’s story as a bridge between Washington and Beijing, mainly during the 1971 secret visit of Henry Kissinger to China, again shows the “role of the regional reparator.”
He points out that Pakistan’s National Security Policy explicitly rejects the geopolitical block policy and promotes economic connectivity and regional cooperation. This vision, says Yusuf, is aligned with US interests in promoting stability, open trade and anti -terrorism efforts.
The former NSA emphasizes that Pakistan does not want to choose between China and the United States, and should not be forced to do so.
“Pakistan’s economy depends on both powers. Try to move him away from China.
He proposes that the United States could reduce tensions on China’s investments in Pakistan, particularly the economic corridor of China-Pakistan (CPEC), by launching parallel or complementary infrastructure projects in the region. Yusuf suggests that investments shared in regional connectivity could transform Pakistan into a commercial crossroads that benefit US, Chinese and even Indian interests.
Read: Judge Shah again denied Noc to travel abroad
In addition, cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism and resource extraction, especially in critical mineral areas such as Reko DIQ, offers collaboration opportunities that meet the American strategic objectives and the development needs of Pakistan.
Yusuf warns that a continuous inclination of the United States towards India could exacerbate the risk of a large -scale war in southern Asia, particularly because India remains fixed in its rivalry with Pakistan. He emphasizes that the New Delhi confrontation policies have distracted him from his strategic competence with China and that they could exaggerate their military capabilities, especially in the face of a possible two -front conflict.
It also emphasizes that improving relationships with Pakistan could open doors for India to expand their access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, benefits that are currently lost due to a hostile posture.
Yusuf warned that, unless the United States encourages India-Pakistan dialogue to solve long-data disputes, from terrorism to Kashmir to share the water, the region will remain locked in a dangerous cycle.
As the United States seeks to adapt to a multipolar world, Yusuf asks for a “realistic restart” in its strategy in southern Asia, one that does not treat India as the only couple and recognizes Pakistan’s indispensable role to guarantee regional peace.
“Only a US UU approach. Balanced, grounded in pragmatism and shared interests, can guarantee long -term stability in Asia del Sur and safeguard the US influence in the region,” he concluded, warning that the continuous policy centered on Washington’s India runs the risk of alienating Pakistan, but also that its strategic limit is lost of Asia.
