Trading Peace for Profits

Let us recall that after the Balakot strike in 2019 by India, Ashley Tellis, a well-known American Commentator, unequivocally commented that “Pakistani terrorism remains the principal continuing threat to stability in South Asia. US' policy moving forward must relentlessly pressure Pakistan to crack down on jihadi groups or risk continuing crises in the region”.

Many observers had then logically concluded that the Balakot crisis—which began with Jaish-e-Mohammad’s (JeM) suicide bombing of an Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy at Pulwama on February 14, 2019, provoked Indian military retaliation and the subsequent Indo-Pakistani air battles on February 26–27—was heading in exactly this direction. That it did not eventually result in a full-scale war, as a simulation might have predicted, is owed greatly to propitious political circumstances. The then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, had very adroitly underplayed the occurrence. But if such deadly outcomes are to be averted permanently, for the sake of peace and stability in South Asia, the fundamental cause of the convulsion—namely, the Pakistan military’s continued support for terrorist groups deployed against its neighbours—must be confronted squarely by the international community and ultimately by the Pakistani polity itself.

But truly that did not happen. It was then noticed that after the Indian attacks on May 10, 2025, over Sargodha and Rawalpindi, Pakistan Army Chief General Munir was persuaded to approach the American Secretary of State to seek a de-escalation. At the same time, Pakistan’s Armed forces were seen conducting a military funeral for the terrorists killed at Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, JeM’s main centre for training and indoctrination, and operational headquarters. Some of these terrorists were placed on a banned list by the United Nations. In this backdrop, to our amazement, he was then promoted to Field Marshal. Truly not because he could handle the threat to his country, but more for having been a facilitator for a business deal for a Trump corporation.

Simultaneously, we discovered that the Trump administration had told a New York court that India and Pakistan reached a “tenuous ceasefire” only after President Donald Trump “interceded and offered both nations trading access with the US to avert a full-scale war.” Indian government sources have maintained that the two countries reached an understanding without any third-party involvement. And neither was a trade agreement culminated or was a promoter of a cease-fire. Dealing with terrorism per se cannot be allowed to be seen as a business deal by any democratic state.

Let us also note that, on February 25, 2025, US President Donald Trump reportedly allocated $397 million for Pakistan's F-16 fleet maintenance. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress questioned the Modi government's diplomatic strategy and called for a reassessment of India's foreign policy priorities to safeguard national interests. The American actions were preposterous and in clear violation of the Symington Amendment. The Symington Amendment is a US law passed by the US Congress that prohibits most economic and military aid to countries that acquire, produce, or use nuclear enrichment equipment and technology outside of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. It was introduced by Senator Stuart Symington in 1976.

India thus will have to overcome the rigours of American myopia despite their horrendous experiences of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the knowledge that most notably their perpetrator, Osama Bin Laden, was happily ensconced in a house in Abbottabad in Pakistan, located next to Pakistan Military Academy. Pakistan’s Army officers were being trained there.

A deep reading of history would reveal that the USA has been regularly and purposefully using Pakistan as a frontline state for its nefarious ends, and Pakistan has paid a serious price for its role as a go-between the US and the Mujahideen. Although Pakistan’s defence minister, in a hollow statement, has publicly admitted that Pakistan has over the years gathered a huge number of local and foreign mercenary terrorists over whom they seemingly have no control. On the other hand, their Inter-Services Intelligence effectively and purposefully exploits these killer machines for their nefarious ends. This is well established. It is for the US policymakers to take note.

Also, it is ironic that Pakistan has survived the scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). It is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. It sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. The FATF amazingly lifted the grey area label applied to Pakistan and removed all controls.

Views expressed are personal