Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
India has raised concerns over continued US military assistance to Pakistan, highlighting a potential fault line in Washington’s expanding defense partnership with New Delhi. The issue surfaced during talks between Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, on Wednesday.
Indian officials said Singh questioned US support for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter fleet, including a recently announced $686 million upgrade package. He also expressed concern that Islamabad could transfer advanced American military technology to a third country, an apparent reference to China. The concerns reflect India’s broader unease over the strategic implications of US-Pakistan military cooperation as Washington deepens defense ties with New Delhi.
Despite these differences, the meeting underscored the importance both countries attach to their long-term defense relationship. Singh and Hegseth reviewed progress under the 10-year US-India Major Defense Partnership Framework, signed a year earlier to provide direction for expanded military and technological cooperation.
According to India’s defense ministry, discussions covered military exchanges, information sharing, maritime security and stronger defense supply chains. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to countering terrorism, with Singh stressing that countries supporting, financing or sheltering terrorist organizations should face accountability. Hegseth reiterated Washington’s support for India’s efforts against cross-border terrorism.
The discussions illustrate the challenge of maintaining strategic cooperation while managing disagreements over regional security priorities. For India, US military assistance to Pakistan raises concerns about the potential impact on the regional balance and the security of sensitive defense technologies. For Washington, sustaining engagement with multiple regional partners may involve balancing competing interests.
Singh’s parallel discussions with defense counterparts from Japan, Australia and South Korea further highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. His meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi followed a recent agreement to deepen maritime security cooperation between their countries.
Ultimately, the durability of the US-India defense partnership will depend not only on expanding joint capabilities but also on how effectively both sides manage differences over Pakistan, terrorism and regional strategic stability.
