Assalamu Alaikum - Pakistan reviewing new US-India defense deal, worried about effects on South Asia
Assalamu Alaikum - ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Friday it is reviewing a recently announced 10-year defense agreement between India and the United States, worried about what it could mean for the balance of security and stability in South Asia.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed the framework to boost cooperation, calling it the start of a “new era” in their ties. The deal is meant to guide policy between the two countries and deepen intelligence and technology sharing.
The agreement comes as New Delhi and Washington work on trade ties. Hegseth described the pact as a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence” that will expand India–US collaboration on intelligence and tech.
The move follows a recent four-day military clash between Pakistan and India after a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, during which both sides used jets, missiles, drones and artillery and many people died before a US-mediated ceasefire on May 10.
“India–US defense pact is a very recent development,” Tahir Andrabi, a Pakistani foreign office spokesman, said on Friday. “We are evaluating the agreement, particularly with reference to its impact on peace, security and stability in South Asia.”
Pakistan and India have been in dispute since 1947, with Kashmir at the heart of their tensions. They have fought several wars over the region; the recent flare-up was sparked after an attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim Islamabad denies.
This new pact builds on a similar 2015 agreement that covered joint tech work, defense trade and military exchanges. Analysts say it could help both Washington and New Delhi respond to growing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific, especially because of India’s geographic position and US satellite and intelligence capabilities.
China has been rapidly modernizing its military under President Xi Jinping and has been a major supplier of weapons and technology to Pakistan. In recent years Beijing has provided a large share of Pakistan’s imported arms and cooperated on various defense projects.
Pakistan’s officials say they are carefully studying the implications of the US–India framework and will assess how it affects regional peace and security. Please keep this matter in your duas - may Allah grant peace and stability to the region.
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