At the turn of the century, it became abundantly clear that China was on its way to dethrone the US as the world's sole superpower. No superpower would let its adversary take its place easily. The US has long portrayed itself as a leader of the "free world" and considers the rise of China as a threat to the "rule based order".

The US and its allies continue to advance this narrative that China, as a superpower, would be a disaster for the "free world". In order to contain China, the US decided to cozy up with India. For so long India maintained a non-aligned posture but leaned toward the Soviet Union. The US-India ties remained lukewarm. Relations between the two countries soured after India conducted nuclear tests in 1998, prompting US sanctions. However, in the early 2000s a strategic rethinking began in Washington. With China's rise looming large, the US saw India as a natural democratic counterweight in Asia.

The big reset happened during President Bush's second term. His administration made a bold bet,........

© The Express Tribune