The way President Donald Trump is currently governing the United States and dealing with the world at large has resulted in a significant reorientation of its approach to South Asia, in particular to India and Pakistan. Pakistan was deeply involved in helping Washington reach an understanding with Iran. According to newspaper reports, Field Marshal Asim Munir was engaged in what is best described as shuttle diplomacy, traveling between Iran and the United States. He was also in touch with President Trump through the telephone. The role Munir played has resulted in a significant improvement in Washington's relations with Islamabad. This development has not pleased the rulers in New Delhi. The Washington-New Delhi relationship is also under pressure as the American leadership is working hard to ease tensions with the ruling elite in China. Also troubling the Indian leadership is the way the Americans are treating Indians living in the United States.

To deal with this situation, the Americans sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to New Delhi. "The United States-India relationship has not lost any momentum," he said in a news conference in New Delhi on May 25, 2026. That was on the second day of his four-day visit to India. "The relationship continues to be strong." He explained that Trump's efforts to impose tariffs on Indian imports to the United States ¬— 50 per cent in the initial salvos in the summer of 2025 - were not aimed at India specifically but were part of a global effort to create balances of........

© The Express Tribune