New Delhi: The main opposition party took aim today at the government over the newly released US National Security Strategy, calling it a “notable shift” in American policy towards Pakistan and accusing the administration of glossing over serious concerns.
According to Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, the 33-page document released by the White House replaces the explicit criticism of Islamabad that featured in the 2017 policy under the Donald Trump administration. “It avoids the explicit criticism that defined the 2017 strategy document,” Ramesh said. Ramesh also pointed out that the strategy reiterates Trump’s claim that he settled the “raging conflict between India and Pakistan”. He said the same assertion appears on page 8 of the document.
In a biting remark he added in Hindi: “Kya se kya ho gaya, bewafa teri dosti mein,” taking a dig at Narendra Modi over what the Congress perceives as a dramatic change in US thinking. The document also highlights enhanced US-India cooperation on security in the South China Sea and calls on New Delhi to bolster its role in Indo-Pacific stability, in part through participation in the Quad framework.
With Washington’s apparent pivot on Pakistan and renewed public praise for India, the Congress warned that New Delhi must be wary of shifting global allegiances and urged transparency from the government on its foreign-policy stance.
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