For India, US President Donald Trump continues to be an enigma! This should not be surprising at all. It is great if he is on your side of the table, but if he is not, his unpredictability vis-à-vis global politics in general, and Indo-Pacific politics in particular, can be difficult to understand and to keep pace with.

The latter view is gaining traction these days, with many in India — including citizens, experts, analysts and observers on South Asian affairs, mandarins in government, etc. — indirectly suggesting that he is indulging in doublespeak when it comes to US ties with Pakistan and its stance on neutralising terror, wherever it emanates from.

We all know by now, and are becoming accustomed to the fact, that the Trump presidency is going to be entirely transactional — i.e., business as usual — and that multilateral engagement and diplomacy are going to be given a “huge" miss.

It is there for all to see! Days before the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan as retribution for its terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives on 22 April, Pakistan’s Finance Ministry signed a cryptocurrency deal with a US-based firm. There are rumours that Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, is a key beneficiary.

The deal between World Liberty Financial (WLF) and Pakistan’s Finance Ministry is targeted at making South Asia a cryptocurrency hub.........

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