Rubio Stirs India-US Diplomatic Pot Amid Fluid Geopolitics

Spread love

Former Diplomats Slam US Secretary of State for “Strange Remarks”

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, July 26, 2005 —Two days before parliament take us discussion on Operation Sindoor, diplomatic circles are buzzing with trajectory of India-US relations. After hosting Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir at Oval Office of US President Donald Trump, Washington laid out red carpet for visiting deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar.

Posting a photograph with Dar, Rubio shared a long post on X, lauding for various things, including “regional stability, counterterrorism, and more.” India’s former diplomats called Rubio’s hailing of Pakistan “strange.”

Former foreign secretary of India Kanwal Sibal in a post on X said: “After the Pahalgam attack that led to India’s military action against known terrorist hubs in Pakistan, the State Department declaring TRF, an offshoot of LeT, that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, an international terrorist organisation, and America’s own long experience of Pakistan’s duplicity on terrorism, Rubio thanks Pak Foreign Minister Dar for partnership in countering terrorism. Strange!”

Rubio had lauded Pakistan for strategic role in partnership with the US. “Met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar today to discuss expanding bilateral trade and enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals sector. I also thanked him for Pakistan’s partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability,” wrote Rubio on X.

Sibal further expressed disappointment, saying that “in the context of Trump himself repeating that he averted a nuclear war between Pakistan and India, for Rubio to praise Pakistan for ‘preserving regional stability’ is truly bizarre.”

The former foreign secretary mentioned doublespeak on the part of the US in relations with Pakistan. Sibal raised the issue of a “radicalized Pakistan, with a rabid Islamist as Army Chief”, pursuing “its undying hostility towards India.”

He also stressed that Pakistan continues to be in conflict with “even the Taliban regime in Afghanistan which they helped install in power.” Sibal accused Pakistan of “colluding with China against India’s security and joining hands with Islamists in Bangladesh to open a new Islamic front against India.”

Former diplomat Bhaswati Mukherjee in reply to Sibal stated that she agreed with his observations. “Fully agree. Pakistan is an international hub of terrorism. How can it then preserve regional stability? It is the contrary,” said Mukherjee.

She even suggested that India should look for strategic alternative. “If this is what the US administration feels, India should look for other strategic partners,” added Mukherjee.

Sibal also stated that Pakistan “continues to build its nuclear and missile capabilities despite its parlous economic and financial situation.” He wondered if Pakistan is “preserving regional stability” or persisting in causing regional instability?”

Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn