External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took a pointed jab at the United States’ warming relationship with Pakistan under the Trump administration, invoking the 2011 killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad to highlight a pattern of overlooking inconvenient history. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar remarked, “They have a history with each other, and they have a history of overlooking that history. It is the same military that went into Abbottabad and found, you know who, there.”
Jaishankar’s comments were in response to questions about the recent realignment between Washington and Islamabad, exemplified by a high-profile June 2025 meeting where US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir at the White House—the first such exclusive invitation since India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The operation, a response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian tourists, targeted Pakistani military bases, escalating tensions before a bilateral ceasefire was negotiated.
Jaishankar firmly rejected Trump’s claims of mediating the ceasefire, emphasizing that the resolution was achieved through direct India-Pakistan talks. “It is a fact that phone calls were made by the US and others, but the outcome was negotiated between India and Pakistan,” he clarified, dismissing third-party mediation.
The minister underscored that the US-Pakistan relationship often operates on a “politics of convenience,” with tactical or calculated moves overshadowing past tensions, such as the covert US Navy SEALs operation on May 2, 2011, which killed bin Laden in a Pakistani garrison town without prior notification to Islamabad. This incident had strained US-Pakistan ties at the time, given Bin Laden’s proximity to Pakistan’s military establishment. Jaishankar’s remarks come amid renewed US-Pakistan engagement, including a counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad in August 2025 and reduced US tariffs on Pakistani exports to 19%, aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s economy.
Also Read: Jaishankar’s High-Stakes Moscow Meet with Putin: India-Russia Ties Set to Soar!
Despite the critique, Jaishankar emphasized the resilience of India-US relations, stating, “I respond to the challenge of the day, but I always keep in mind the larger structural strengths of the relationship.” He highlighted India’s confidence in its strategic partnership with the US, even as tensions persist over issues like Trump’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Indian imports and an additional 25% levy for India’s purchase of Russian oil. Jaishankar also challenged US accusations of India profiteering from Russian oil, retorting, “If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Nobody forces you.”
The minister’s remarks reflect India’s cautious navigation of global alliances, balancing its robust ties with the US while countering narratives that undermine its regional autonomy. Posts on X echoed Jaishankar’s sentiments, with users noting the “uncomfortable truth” of Pakistan’s military history and the US’s selective memory in its diplomatic engagements.
Also Read: Jaishankar’s Moscow Mission: Defying US Tariffs to Strengthen India-Russia Ties!