'India is more important than Pakistan...', former US diplomats warned Trump against messing with India

The imposition of heavy tariffs on Indian imports by US President Donald Trump has changed the relationship between India and the US in an unprecedented way.

Trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries are getting colder. But former top officials of the Joe Biden administration, Jake Sullivan and Kurt Campbell, believe that this partnership is so important that it must be saved at all costs.

They say that if this relationship weakens, the US will not only lose a strategic friend, but the risk of giving China a technological and strategic edge will also increase.

'India will move closer to Russia-China'

In a joint article written in 'Foreign Affairs', the two leaders described India as America's "most important global partner" and warned Trump that his "dramatic actions" could push India closer to countries like China and Russia.

Sullivan and Campbell, referring to the warm meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, said that if the US does not try to improve relations with India, India may have to suffer "losses". India may not only come under pressure from a neighbour like China, but cooperation with the US in areas like technology, education, and defence may also weaken.

'Don't make the mistake of looking at 'India-Pakistan' through a single lens...'

Sullivan and Campbell advised that the US should avoid the policy of looking at India and Pakistan together. They say that relations with India are much more important than Pakistan.

Recently, Trump met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and talked about issues like trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency.

After this, the US signed a trade agreement with Pakistan and promised to help develop its alleged huge oil reserves. At the same time, an additional 25 percent tariff was also imposed on India.

The two former officials said the US should cooperate with Pakistan on issues such as terrorism and nuclear proliferation, but that this is less important than relations with India. Trump also took credit for the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which India has repeatedly rejected.