Friends of friends, Pg10.

Key Highlights:

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed the "deep, historic, and important" India-US ties before meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kuala Lumpur.
• Rubio emphasized that US engagement with Islamabad does not undermine its relationship and friendship with New Delhi.
• Recent diplomatic exchanges indicate a renewed warmth in US-Pakistan relations, with Asim Munir making three official visits to Washington since June.
• The US imposed a penalty tariff on India due to continued oil purchases from Russia, causing setbacks in the India-US relationship.

Detailed Insights:

• US-Pakistan partnerships have historically been transactional, particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, while India-US ties are rooted in security, technology, energy cooperation, and curbing China's influence.
• Pakistan's strategic assets, including its geographical location, disruptive potential, nuclear capability, and a population of 250 million, make it attractive to countries like the US, China, and Saudi Arabia.
• Despite pursuing stronger ties with India, countries may still engage with Pakistan, similar to India's continued oil purchases from Russia while seeking deeper partnerships with the US.
• India's GDP is approximately $4 trillion, while Pakistan's is around $400 billion, highlighting a significant economic disparity and differing global standing.
• To prevent re-hyphenation with Pakistan, India needs to separate Pakistan from internal politics and increase its leverage through economic growth and technological capacity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• De-hyphenation: A diplomatic strategy where a country aims to be seen and treated independently of another country with which it is often compared or associated.
• Transactional Relationship: A relationship primarily based on immediate benefits and exchanges rather than long-term strategic alignment or shared values.
• Strategic Assets: Resources or attributes that a country possesses that are valuable for achieving its geopolitical objectives, such as location, military capabilities, or economic influence.