US Support to Pakistan Against India: A Strategic Tool to Pressure and Contain a Rising Power


US Support to Pakistan Against India: A Strategic Tool to Pressure and Contain a Rising Power

Introduction

In the ever-shifting geopolitical landscape of South Asia, relations between India, Pakistan, and the United States have been shaped by a complex web of security concerns, strategic calculations, and great-power politics. While the US officially describes India as a “strategic partner” in the 21st century, history reveals a consistent pattern where Washington has supported Pakistan — often militarily, diplomatically, and economically — in ways that have served to pressure and contain India’s influence.

This pattern has raised questions in India about whether such policies are motivated by a desire to maintain a balance in South Asia or by deeper concerns about India’s long-term rise as an economic and strategic power.

Historical Context: US–Pakistan Ties Since the Cold War

The roots of US support to Pakistan go back to the early Cold War years:

  • 1950s–1960s: Alliance Building
    Pakistan joined US-led military alliances such as SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) and CENTO (Central Treaty Organization). In return, Washington supplied modern weapons, financial aid, and training to Pakistan’s armed forces — a move that India perceived as an indirect attempt to undermine its security.

  • 1965 Indo–Pakistan War
    Although the US officially called for restraint, its previous arms supplies to Pakistan were used in the war against India, revealing how American military aid indirectly bolstered Pakistan’s offensive capability.

  • 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
    During the conflict, the US tilted diplomatically towards Pakistan despite evidence of human rights abuses in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The famous “tilt” policy of President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was partly aimed at maintaining US–Pakistan ties for Cold War objectives — and partly to counter India’s growing influence in the region.

The Afghan Jihad and Strategic Leverage Over India

The 1980s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan gave the US–Pakistan relationship new depth:

  • Massive Military Aid — Billions of dollars in US weapons and funding flowed to Pakistan to support the Afghan mujahideen.
  • Strengthening Pakistan’s Intelligence Network — The ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) became a central player in regional security, with the US tolerating — and at times encouraging — its anti-India networks.
  • Strategic Containment of India — By keeping Pakistan militarily strong and politically aligned, the US ensured that India’s regional dominance would be checked.

Nuclear Double Standards

While the US imposed sanctions on India after its 1974 nuclear test, it largely turned a blind eye to Pakistan’s clandestine nuclear program during the 1980s because Islamabad was critical to America’s anti-Soviet strategy. This selective approach:

  • Allowed Pakistan to develop nuclear weapons capability.
  • Increased India’s security concerns, forcing it to divert resources toward defense preparedness instead of economic development.

Post-9/11: Counterterrorism Cooperation with a Side of Geopolitics

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Pakistan was declared a Major Non-NATO Ally of the US. Billions in aid were funneled to Pakistan under the guise of counterterrorism. While some of this aid targeted militants in Afghanistan, India observed several troubling patterns:

  • Advanced Weapons Systems — US-supplied aircraft, attack helicopters, and surveillance equipment enhanced Pakistan’s conventional military capabilities — assets that could just as easily be deployed against India.
  • Diplomatic Shielding — Pakistan often escaped strong US condemnation on issues like cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, with Washington preferring to maintain Islamabad’s cooperation in Afghanistan.

Balancing India Through Pakistan

Even in the 21st century, when India is seen as a potential counterweight to China, certain US policies continue to reflect a balancing act:

  • Military Aid Under Various Pretexts — The US has justified arms sales to Pakistan for “counterterrorism” or “border security,” but many of these systems enhance Pakistan’s conventional warfare capabilities.
  • Diplomatic Equidistance — In times of India–Pakistan crises, US calls for “restraint on both sides” are perceived in India as moral equivalence, undermining its claims of victimhood from terrorism.
  • Encouraging Dependency — By keeping Pakistan dependent on US aid and arms, Washington maintains a lever to influence South Asian dynamics.

Why the US Might Want to Pressure and Contain India

The argument that US support to Pakistan is meant, at least in part, to keep India “in check” rests on several strategic considerations:

  1. Preserving Regional Balance
    A militarily and diplomatically capable Pakistan ensures India cannot dominate South Asia unchallenged.

  2. Geopolitical Leverage
    In times of disagreement with New Delhi — whether over trade policies, defense deals with Russia, or foreign policy autonomy — the US can use Pakistan as an indirect pressure point.

  3. Preventing Strategic Overreach by India
    A constantly engaged India, focused on managing tensions with Pakistan, has less bandwidth to challenge US influence in global economic and political forums.

  4. Arms Market Influence
    By arming both sides (though differently), the US maintains a profitable defense relationship with South Asia while also exerting political influence.

Shifts in the Present Era

Recent years have seen some changes:

  • Countering China as a Common Interest — The US increasingly views India as a partner in the Indo-Pacific against China’s assertiveness.
  • Reduced Aid to Pakistan — Especially under the Trump administration, US military aid to Pakistan was cut in response to allegations of duplicity in counterterrorism.
  • Yet, Tactical Support Remains — Even with cuts, the US still engages Pakistan on military training, limited arms sales, and diplomatic dialogue — ensuring it remains a factor in India’s strategic environment.

India’s Response to the Pressure

India has pursued several strategies to neutralize this balancing act:

  • Diversifying Defense Partnerships — Building stronger ties with Russia, France, Israel, and others to avoid overreliance on US arms.
  • Expanding Global Alliances — Using platforms like the Quad (India–US–Japan–Australia) to secure strategic advantages beyond South Asia.
  • Economic Strength as Leverage — Turning India’s economic growth into a bargaining chip in global diplomacy.

Conclusion

The history of US–Pakistan ties makes it clear that Washington has, at multiple points, used its support for Islamabad as a means of influencing or pressuring New Delhi. Whether in the form of military aid, diplomatic interventions, or selective criticism, this pattern has contributed to India’s sense that its rise will always be met with counterbalances from major powers.

While current US–India ties are stronger than at any point in history, the underlying reality remains: Pakistan continues to be a useful tool for the US in managing South Asian dynamics. For India, the challenge lies in ensuring that its economic, military, and diplomatic strength reaches a level where such external balancing efforts become ineffective.

In geopolitics, friendship and rivalry are rarely absolute — and the US’s simultaneous courting of India while keeping Pakistan strategically relevant is a textbook example of power politics at play.


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