Former US Advisor Advocates for Stronger Ties with India Over Pakistan

Call for a Shift in US Foreign Policy

David Wurmser, a former senior advisor on foreign policy in the US, who worked under Vice-President Dick Cheney and at the State Department with John R. Bolton, has criticized Washington's longstanding neutrality between India and Pakistan. In a recent interview, he described this stance as "one of the great mistakes" in American foreign policy. Wurmser emphasized that India should be recognized as a crucial ally for the United States, rather than Pakistan. His comments come at a time when US President Donald Trump has been engaging with Pakistani leaders, including hosting army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while also taking credit for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan that India has rejected.

Wurmser, who has a background as a foreign policy analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, stated that India deserves to be treated as a strategic partner alongside nations like Japan, Israel, and the UK. He remarked, "It is a significant error for American policy to remain neutral between Pakistan and India. On nearly every major strategic issue, India should be one of America's foundational allies in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond."

Wurmser further argued for a more explicit recognition of India's strategic role for the United States. He believes that India, along with other key allies such as Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Greece, will be essential in fostering stability from the Pacific to the Mediterranean. He warned of destabilizing forces affecting regional politics in both Asia and the Middle East, which pose global challenges to stability.

Describing India as "an indispensable nation," Wurmser anticipates that the bilateral relationship between India and the US will strengthen significantly. He noted, "India is crucial for maintaining stability, and I foresee Indian-American relations evolving to a level comparable to that of Japan, Israel, or the UK, as it is essential for both nations." He also highlighted the shared democratic values and historical ties as a foundation for a closer partnership, stating, "India is a democracy with an ancient civilization, one of only three such democracies globally, alongside Israel and Japan. This civilizational connection should naturally draw American support and friendship, as freedom is a core value of the United States."