US must consider India’s concerns on Pakistan, says ex-US diplomat after tariff relief

Shouldn't expect India to ditch Russia: Ex-US diplomat days after tariff relief

• US urged not to pressure India to cut Russian defense ties
• Tariff cuts by US have eased recent trade tensions with India
• Lack of US alternatives may weaken India-US strategic trust

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Former US diplomat Lindsey Ford has cautioned Washington against pushing India to sever defence ties with Russia, saying such pressure could weaken, not strengthen, the India–United States partnership.

Her remarks come days after US President Donald Trump reduced tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%, a move seen as easing trade tensions and reviving bilateral engagement.

Defence dependence cannot change overnight

Speaking before a US congressional commission, Ford, who earlier served in the administration of Joe Biden, said Washington must recognise India’s long-standing reliance on Russian military systems.

"America needs to understand that if we ask India to diversify away from Russia, it will create a real vulnerability for India. If America does not step up to provide things militarily, we should not expect that India will walk away from Russia," she said.

She added that US policymakers should also examine India’s concerns regarding Pakistan and its defence cooperation with China.

'America has to consider the concerns India has been raising about Pakistan. This includes Pakistan picking up tactics, tech, and training from the West & taking them to China. The US and Western countries have to interrogate these concerns,' Ford said.

Tariff relief revives ties

The comments come as relations improved after Washington rolled back punitive duties earlier imposed partly over India’s purchase of discounted Russian crude oil, a decision New Delhi defended on energy security grounds.

Trump had earlier claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to reduce Russian oil purchases and increase imports from the US and possibly Venezuela to help “end the war in Ukraine”. Moscow, however, said it had received no official communication from India on halting purchases and reaffirmed plans to deepen ties with New Delhi.

Trust deficit remains

Ford said recent tensions had strengthened doubts within India about the reliability of the United States as a long-term strategic partner.

"There has long been a debate in India about how much it could rely on America. The last year has amplified those voices who always argued that the US was a bad bet for India," she said.

Pressure without alternatives could backfire

According to Ford, expecting India to quickly abandon Russian defence systems without offering credible military alternatives would be unrealistic and strategically counterproductive. She warned that forcing a rupture could expose India to security risks, especially amid regional competition.

Her assessment suggests that while tariff relief has reopened diplomatic space, future progress in India-US ties will depend on consistent defence cooperation rather than coercive pressure.