The trip to Washington by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his well-received address to Congress may have cemented the growing US-India partnership, but it has driven a stake deep into the already fragile US-Pakistan relations. With Afghanistan also affected, the South Asia region faces new tensions and deteriorating relations as a result of major regional realignments.
US-Pakistan relations have been tense for several months. The Pakistan military believes that America is withdrawing from the region and wants to turn India into the regional gendarme. It is also furious that Washington is sponsoring India to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which sets global rules for international trade in nuclear energy technology, and is promoting nuclear equipment deals with US companies while still considering Pakistan a nuclear pariah because of its earlier proliferation of nuclear technology. Neither India nor Pakistan have signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty — an essential requirement before either state can join the 48-nation NSG.
China — a close ally of Pakistan — says it will veto India’s membership of the NSG, but that has only ratcheted up regional tensions. Other countries in the group are being forced to take sides.