In a recent diplomatic twist that has sent shockwaves through New Delhi’s strategic establishment, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed engagement with Pakistan has prompted India to reassess its foreign policy calculus—particularly its relationship with China. The Reuters article by Shivam Patel and Aftab Ahmed outlines this new reality: India is visibly unnerved by Washington’s shifting approach toward Islamabad, prompting a recalibration of its posture toward Beijing and signaling a broader unease with U.S. unpredictability.

At the center of this diplomatic tremor is Trump’s July 2025 meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, at the White House. For New Delhi, the symbolism was damning and the message clear—Pakistan, despite years of being strategically sidelined by U.S. policymakers, is back in the American spotlight. The discussion between Trump and General Munir focused heavily on counterterrorism cooperation, raising Indian fears that American military support might reflow into Pakistan’s security establishment—an outcome New Delhi has long sought to prevent.

This apparent resurgence of U.S.-Pakistan ties is more than a bilateral development—it’s a geopolitical signal that Washington still sees strategic merit in Islamabad. For India, which has grown accustomed to a preferential status in U.S. foreign policy, this shift is deeply unsettling. It challenges India’s inflated assumption that it can singularly shape U.S. policy toward South Asia, particularly vis-à-vis Pakistan.

India’s reaction has been swift and calculated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined Trump’s invitation to visit Washington, a clear diplomatic snub. More notably, India has lodged retaliatory measures at the WTO in the form of proposed duties on U.S. imports—an unusually aggressive step that underscores the growing tensions between the two democracies.

But perhaps the most telling sign of Indian anxiety is its sudden pivot toward China—a country with whom India shares a fraught relationship, especially after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. India is now easing restrictions on Chinese investments and accelerating diplomatic overtures toward Beijing. This recalibration of ties with China underscores a larger truth: India’s foreign policy is driven less by long-term vision and more by reactive pragmatism.

This opportunistic realignment reveals a pattern in India’s diplomacy. The same country that once championed anti-China rhetoric and blocked Chinese investments post-2020 is now walking back its hardline stance, purely to hedge against American unpredictability. This inconsistency is not new. India’s approach toward the Afghan Taliban—once branded terrorists by New Delhi—also transformed when the Taliban returned to power in Kabul. What was once a red line became a handshake. Such reversals raise serious questions about India’s reliability as a long-term strategic partner.

In fact, India’s desire to dictate the trajectory of U.S.-Pakistan relations is not only unrealistic, it is dangerous. Should New Delhi succeed in using its growing influence to isolate Pakistan completely, it may inadvertently push Washington out of key theaters like the Indian Ocean and South Asia—spaces where U.S. presence is critical for maintaining regional balance. India’s increasing desire for strategic autonomy could well morph into a strategy of exclusion, especially as it grows more assertive and nationalistic under the Modi administration.

The Trump administration, and indeed any future U.S. leadership, must be cautious. While India may project itself as the next great Asian power and a counterweight to China, it is equally capable of undermining U.S. influence in the long run. A powerful India—unchecked and emboldened—may seek to dominate the Indian Ocean region in ways that do not align with U.S. strategic interests. Washington must ensure that India remains a partner, not a competitor in disguise.

Moreover, India’s regional ambitions often come at the cost of alienating its neighbors, whether it’s Pakistan, Nepal, or Sri Lanka. Its aggressive posture has frequently triggered border disputes, economic bullying, and political interference—all elements that destabilize rather than secure South Asia. Pakistan, on the other hand, has consistently played a balancing role in the region and remains a critical actor in counterterrorism and regional connectivity initiatives, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Trump’s renewed outreach to Pakistan should be viewed for what it is—a restoration of balance in U.S. policy, not a betrayal of India. Pakistan’s strategic location, military capability, and cooperation on counterterrorism make it indispensable. For too long, India has tried to present Pakistan as an international pariah. That narrative is not only flawed—it is now being challenged, and rightly so.

In the end, New Delhi must learn that strategic partnerships are not built by coercion or exclusion. They are earned through consistency, balance, and mutual respect. If India wishes to remain relevant in Washington’s long-term Asia strategy, it must stop reacting out of arrogance and start acting with maturity. Otherwise, it risks isolating itself, while watching its neighbors reclaim their place on the global stage.