Former Pakistani National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf argues that the US India Strategy relying on India has underperformed, urging Washington to adopt a more balanced approach by engaging Pakistan. He warns that overdependence on New Delhi risks losing influence across South Asia and calls for pragmatic cooperation instead of rigid alignments.
Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s former National Security Adviser, believes the US’s strategic bet on India has backfired. In a Foreign Affairs essay titled “Why America should bet on Pakistan”, he asserts Washington has overestimated India’s alignment with its interests and underestimated Pakistan’s potential as a stabiliser in South Asia. The Express Tribune
Despite deepening defence, economic, and technological ties with India, the US has found India pursuing its own path—evidence includes its neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its simultaneous outreach to both Moscow and Beijing. These actions suggest India’s foreign policy is driven more by strategic autonomy than loyalty to American-led global priorities. The Express Tribune
Yusuf identifies three faulty assumptions in US India Strategy policy: that India would be a dependable counterweight to China; that Pakistan would always lean toward Beijing; and that Pakistan’s past role in Afghanistan makes it unreliable. These ideas, he says, have led Washington to isolate Pakistan and enable India’s more aggressive posture in the region. The Express Tribune
He suggests that by working with Pakistan—through economic collaboration, counterterrorism, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity—the US can foster regional stability and even shape a more constructive dynamic between itself and China. A balanced US India Strategy that recognizes Pakistan’s strategic importance, he argues, will yield better long-term results than tilting too far toward India. The Express Tribune
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