US Eyes Pakistan Ties—But Not at India’s Expense, Says Rubio

RR Team

1 month ago

On the eve of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that while the United States sees an opportunity to broaden its strategic relationship with Pakistan, this will not come at the cost of its long-standing ties with India. “I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic and important,” Rubio told reporters.

Balancing Diplomatic Priorities

U.S. move to deepen ties with Pakistan has emerged amid a period of more active engagement, especially after high-level meetings involving President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s military leadership. Rubio acknowledged that New Delhi’s concerns were “for obvious reasons,” given the historically fraught India-Pakistan relationship, but emphasised a pragmatic foreign-policy outlook in which the U.S. engages multiple partners simultaneously.

India’s Energy Portfolio in Focus

When asked whether India could scale back purchases of Russian crude in favour of U.S. supplies, Rubio noted that India had already signalled a desire to diversify its oil sources. He did not commit to specific trade conditions but said, “If they diversified their portfolio the more they buy it from us, the more they’ll buy it from someone else.”

India-U.S. Relations Remain Key

Rubio underlined that India occupies a “very mature” position in diplomacy and foreign policy, noting that India itself maintains ties with countries the U.S. may not. The message: expanding strategic ties with Pakistan is not meant to diminish India’s role in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, or replace the bilateral partnership with New Delhi.

What This Means for India and Pakistan

For India, Rubio’s remarks offer reassurance that U.S. relations with Pakistan will not necessarily be zero-sum. The emphasis on historic ties suggests Washington still views India as a central partner. For Pakistan, it signals a window for deeper cooperation beyond counter-terror efforts, albeit within constraints. As India, Pakistan and the U.S. meet in high-level forums, the triangular dynamics of South Asian diplomacy remain in flux.

Looking Ahead

As the ASEAN summit unfolds and bilateral meetings between Rubio and India’s S. Jaishankar progress, observers will watch for outcomes on trade, energy and security ties. For India, diversification of oil supplies and evolving U.S. policy toward Pakistan may be items of interest. For the U.S., balancing historic partnerships with emerging opportunities underscores a broader shift toward multilateral strategic engagement.