“It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal”
– Henry Kissinger
(Former US Secretary of State)
The aforementioned statement is an accurate encapsulation of American foreign policy vis-à-vis its partners. One can find several instances throughout history to substantiate this claim. From backstabbing Kurds in Syria to spying on European allies, the US has always been a dubious partner. Solipsism and chicanery are the core principles that resonate with the American worldview and its approach towards geopolitics. In India, we have frequent discussions and debates regarding the imminent threat from China and Pakistan, but seldom do we talk about American interference. Creating instability in India’s neighbourhood, supporting the terrorist state Pakistan, and carrying out an anti-India smear campaign—American mischiefs are often overlooked in Indian strategic circles. It’s high time that the American threat needs to be a part of Indian national security discourse. This article seeks to create awareness about obstacles and threats India faces from Washington behind the mainstream Indo-US bonhomie.
Also Read: The Indian Dilemma: Can Russia Be Trusted?
THE AMERICAN BLUFF: UNVEILING THREATS & CHALLENGES
The roots of U.S. involvement in India trace back to the Cold War era. During this time, India adopted a non-aligned stance, while the U.S. sought to counter Soviet influence in the region. India’s partnership with the USSR and its socialist economic policies often clashed with U.S. geopolitical ambitions, leading to mutual distrust. However, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the subsequent rise of India gave a new start to the Indo-US partnership. Despite being strategic partners, that mutual distrust still prevails. This distrust stems from the American policy of double play aimed at keeping India on its toes and an attempt to keep India in check.
THE PAKISTAN PLOY: THE AMERICAN DUPLICITY
The US approach towards India vis-à-vis Pakistan, often perceived as a “double game,” has been a defining feature of South Asian geopolitics for decades. This duality stems from shifting strategic interests, often frustrating India while benefiting Pakistan. During the Cold War, Pakistan became a key U.S. ally, receiving extensive military and economic aid. The U.S., under President Nixon, backed Pakistan in its genocide in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The U.S. supplied Pakistan with advanced military hardware, which was used against India in wars (1965, 1971). Furthermore, the American role behind a nuclear Pakistan also can’t be ignored. Despite being aware of Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions, facilitated by A.Q. Khan’s network, the U.S. did little to curb it during the 1980s and 1990s. Pakistan’s role as a sponsor of cross-border terrorism in India has been well documented, but still, America refrains from taking strong action against Pakistan.
The American support for Pakistan is aimed at preventing India’s regional dominance. By empowering Pakistan, the U.S. maintained a balance of power in South Asia. Today, the U.S. has shifted its focus to countering China, leading to stronger ties with India. However, it still keeps Pakistan as a countervail to subdue Indian influence. The American deception can be seen in the fact that the US recognises Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territories despite being in dispute with China but still doesn’t recognise Kashmir and POK as a part of India just to court Pakistan to keep India on its toes. Furthermore, America plays a vital role in keeping Pakistan afloat through economic and defence aid. In 2022, the U.S. approved a $450 million deal for maintaining Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet fleet. It also proposed $101 million in aid for countering terrorism, despite Pakistan itself being a fountainhead of terrorism.
REGIONAL CRISIS: SOWING SEEDS OF INSTABILITY
The United States’ actions in India’s neighbourhood have often created challenges for New Delhi due to diverging geopolitical priorities. As mentioned above, Pakistan has always been America’s go-to card to cause instability for India. Apart from Pakistan, the US misadventures in Afghanistan—first by creating the Taliban and other Islamist radical groups against Soviet occupation in Afghanistan and later by invading Afghanistan—had a serious fallout for India. US policies in Afghanistan adversely affected India, as Afghan jihad orchestrated by the US and Pakistan resulted in terrorism in Kashmir and other parts of India. The militants created for Afghanistan were later channelled into Kashmir, conducting acts of terrorism. This also had a major role in the mass exodus and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.
The recent coup in Bangladesh against the Hasina government is also seen as a US soft regime change operation. Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. is attempting to orchestrate a “regime change” in Bangladesh. These claims were also substantiated by a media outlet, “The Grayzone,” which in its report stated that the US government-funded International Republican Institute trained an army of activists to oust the Hasina government. The report quoted a staff member of the Institute, saying that “the activists would cooperate with IRI to destabilise Bangladesh’s politics. These assertions are validated by the fact that the current caretaker and chief advisor of Bangladesh, Mohammed Yunus, is a long-time Clinton Global Initiative fellow. He is often considered an American asset. This coup created a national security issue for India, making Bangladesh a breeding ground for extremists, resulting in attacks on minorities, and posing a refugee crisis for India.
DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN: REPUTATIONAL HIT JOB
There have been several instances of deliberate attempts to discredit and malign India’s goodwill by the American disinformation mechanism. This includes a concentrated action by the American media, deep state NGOs, and think tanks working in cahoots. The U.S.-led disinformation campaign against India’s global image targets particularly in contexts involving human rights, democracy, and India’s stance on international issues. Think tanks like Freedom House and the V-Dem Institute often discredit India’s democracy, particularly under the current government. Another name on the list is the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which has repeatedly criticised India’s record on religious freedom, suggesting it be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). The issue is that these organisations display blatant double standards in their reporting. They exaggerate the issues in India while turning a blind eye to other nations, thus casting a shadow on their credibility.
This anti-India prejudice can be accounted for by complete ignorance or a well-designed attempt to malign India’s global image. Many believe the latter to be a more appropriate reason given the people involved in preparing such baseless reports. People like Sema G. Hasan, a Pakistani-origin USCIRF expert on India; Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani national appointed as a commissioner at USCIRF; and other Pakistani pools of experts are accused of peddling anti-India disinformation. Similarly, several American news outlets, like the Washington Post, The New York Times, etc., are accused of portraying India negatively. These allegations were substantiated when a racist anti-India cartoon was published by the New York Times mocking India’s space achievements. After the outrage against such a blatantly racist portrayal of India, the media house had to apologise for its act. These are just a few among many instances of American disinformation campaigns against India and its achievements.
INDIA’S RESPONSE: COUNTERING AMERICAN INFLUENCE
India has adopted a multifaceted approach to counter American interference in its internal matters and the region. This strategy balances assertive diplomatic responses with efforts to safeguard sovereignty while maintaining its strategic partnership with the United States. Here’s how India is managing this:
Media and Diplomatic Pushback: India has aggressively countered negative narratives through its diplomats, government statements, and Indian media outlets. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has openly challenged U.S. narratives, labelling them as attempts to influence or misrepresent India’s domestic policies. India has also used state media and platforms like Doordarshan, as well as government-aligned private outlets, to counter negative narratives in foreign media.
Independent Stance on Global Issues: India has maintained an independent foreign policy, refusing to align fully with U.S. positions on contentious issues. India’s neutral stance, continued trade with Russia, and advocacy for dialogue have demonstrated its strategic autonomy. Strengthening relations with Russia, China (despite tensions), and the Global South helps India counterbalance U.S. pressures.
Leveraging the U.S.-India Partnership: India continues to engage the U.S. in areas of mutual interest, such as defence (Quad, technology sharing), trade, and combating China’s rise while making clear its red lines on sovereignty. India’s participation in the Quad underscores alignment with the U.S. on Indo-Pacific issues but avoids full alignment on other issues. India uses its growing market size and economic clout to maintain leverage in bilateral negotiations with the U.S.
CONCLUSION
India’s approach to countering American interference reflects a balance between safeguarding sovereignty and maintaining a cooperative relationship. By leveraging its growing global stature, fostering resilience at home, and asserting its independent foreign policy, India ensures that its domestic policies remain free from undue external influence. Moreover, it’s just a part and parcel of statecraft and shouldn’t be construed as animosity between two nations. India currently has to focus on its growth and prosperity while countering undue interference from external forces. In the end, the cardinal rule of geopolitics remains: there are no permanent enemies, no permanent friends, only permanent interests.
