US ties with India, Pakistan different in nature: Antony Blinken at HTLS 2026
Antony Blinken's remarks came against the backdrop of perceived closeness between President Donald Trump's administration and the Pakistani leadership
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the distinct nature of US relations with India and Pakistan during his speech at the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday. He described India as a "global force" and acknowledged the country's right to self-defence against terrorist threats, while emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts in case of an escalation.
Blinken noted that the differences between US interests and those of India are primarily global in nature. However, he added that American ties with Pakistan are regional, and there will still be important areas where cooperation is necessary, such as counterterrorism.
The former Secretary of State, who served under President Joe Biden, made these remarks in response to the belief that President Donald Trump's administration had a closer relationship with Pakistan. Trump had claimed to broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following four days of fighting in May 2025. However, New Delhi dismissed this claim, stating that Islamabad had requested the ceasefire following an Indian offensive.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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