Washington: The US should construct a a lot stronger relationship with India, calling the pursuits of each nations “appropriate” regardless of turbulence in ties up to now, in response to James C Lawler, a celebrated former CIA officer and former head of the company’s Counter-Proliferation Division.
In an interview with ANI, Lawler mentioned he has by no means absolutely understood why India and the USA had been “by no means adversaries however by no means true associates” although they shared a number of widespread pursuits and values. He mentioned, “I believe typically American international coverage is a giant puzzle. What I’m longing for is that the USA wants a a lot stronger relationship with India. Most of our pursuits are convergent. We have now vibrant economies. A whole lot of ethnic Indians are amongst our brightest individuals right here in America.”
Lawler mentioned the 2 nations share democratic frameworks and comparable financial aspirations shouldn’t be “standoffish”. “You are a democracy. We’re a democracy. You’ve got gotten away from extra socialistic insurance policies into extra capitalism. I believe we could possibly be a lot stronger working collectively than standoffish,” he mentioned. He additionally mentioned he hoped to go to India at some point, noting, “I’ve by no means been to India. I might like to go someday.”
His remarks come at a time when India-US ties have seen a number of shifts, particularly throughout President Donald Trump’s second time period. The connection entered a troublesome section after Trump imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian items, calling India the “tariff king.” The US President later added one other 25 per cent tariff, saying it was a punishment for India persevering with to buy Russian oil. Trump additionally accused India and different nations of “funding the Russia-Ukraine battle.”
India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs repeatedly rejected these allegations. As ties improved later, Trump repeatedly claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would cease buying Russian oil. The Indian facet didn’t publicly affirm such conversations.
One other main friction level was Trump’s repeated assertion that he personally stopped India and Pakistan from coming into a “potential nuclear battle.” He made this declare referring to the interval of border stress that adopted Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam assault in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 25 civilians and one vacationer. India has persistently denied this model of occasions.
New Delhi has maintained that the ceasefire alongside the Line of Management was reached bilaterally by means of the Director Generals of Army Operations, and that no third-party mediation was concerned. India has additionally reiterated that any points with Pakistan, together with Jammu and Kashmir, should be resolved bilaterally. In the meantime, Lawler who has served for 25 years as a CIA operations officer in varied worldwide posts mentioned the hesitation in earlier India-US relations was troublesome to clarify throughout his time with the US intelligence company.
“India was a lot friendlier to the Soviet Union than we had been. A whole lot of Indian army weaponry was Soviet. I believe we must always provide India with extra expertise,” he mentioned. He added that he had learn experiences that main Indian corporations had now stopped shopping for Russian oil and known as it a gap for deeper cooperation.
Lawler mentioned each nations face comparable strategic issues, together with China, and urged that outdated pondering should be put apart. “The Chilly Conflict is over. Let’s attempt to discover extra mutual pursuits. We could possibly be a lot stronger working collectively,” he mentioned.